HUE |
Has been one of Vietnam's main cultural, religious
and educational center. Today, its main attractions are the splendid tombs
of th Nguyen emperors, several notable pagodas and the remains of the
Citadel. |
DONG BA MARKET |
A local market near the Imperial City |
FORBIDDEN PURPLE CITY |
This was reserved for the personal use of the emperor.
The only servants allowed into the compound were eunuchs, who would pose
no threat to the royal concubine (today this site is in ruins) |
HALLS OF THE MANDARINS |
These buildings, in which the mandarins prepared for
court ceremonies held in the Can Chanh Reception Hall, were restored in
1977. |
IMPERIAL CITY |
Built in the early 19th century, it was modeled after
the Forbidden City of Peking. There are numerous palaces and temples within
these walls, as well as towers, a library and a museum. |
KHAI DINH |
This was the last monument of the Nguyen dynasty and
was constructed between 1920 and 1931. It sits magnificently on the slopes
of Chau E Mountain in Chau Chau Village. It has a long staircase flanked
by dragons. There are ceiling murals and ceramic frescoes. |
NGO MON GATE |
The principal entrance to the Imperial Enclosure,
facing the Flag Tower. The central passageway with its yellow doors was
reserved for use by the emperor, as was the bridge across the lotus pond. |
NINE DYNASTIC URNS |
These were cast in 1835-36. Traditional ornamentation
was then chiseled into the sides of the urns, each dedicated to a different
Nguyen sovereign. |
OLD IMPERIAL CITY CITADEL |
This is a large, moated and walled area that has a
perimeter of some 10 kilometers. It was begun in 1804 by Emperor Gia Long
and used to enclose the entire city. Its seven-meter walls were originally
built of earth but it was decided in the 1820s to cover them with bricks.
It took a thousand years and workers to complete. |
THAI HOA PALACE |
Built in 1803 and moved to its present site in 1833,
Thai Hoa Palace is a spacious hall with an ornate roof of huge timbers
supported by 80 carved and lacquered columns. |
THIEN MU PAGODA |
Just outside of Hue, on the bank of the Perfume River,
this was a hotbed of anti-government protest during the early 1960s. Behind
the main sanctuary of the pagoda is the Austin motorcar, which transported
the monk Thich Quang Duc to the site of his 1963 self-immolation. |
TOMB OF EMPEROR MINH MANG |
A complex built in 1840 by King Minh Mang, known for
its magnificent architecture, military statuaries and elaborate decorations.
It is perhaps the most beautiful of Hue's pagodas and tombs. |
TU DUC TOMB |
Emperor Tu Duc, who ruled Hue more than 100 years
ago, built his tomb when he was still alive and used it for meditation,
reading and theater performances. There are pavilions in a tranquil setting
of forested hills and lakes. The tomb was constructed between 1864 and
1867. Tu Duc, who was the longest reigning Emperor, lived a luxurious
life. |
