Hue Citadel one of the most important structures of the Nguyen Dynasty, it was recognized as a UNESCO world cultural heritage in 1993. Here holds memories of a powerful feudal dynasty still can be found Vietnam. The Citadel was an impressive complex of palaces, temples and gardens, displaying unique architecture and art. Visitors to Hue must discover this site to adore the beauty of the architectural structures of the ancient imperial capital.
1. Hue Citadel: Location, opening hours, entrance fee
Location: Hue Imperial City is situated on the north bank of Perfume River, Thuan Hoa Ward, Hue, Vietnam
Hue Citadel opening hours:
- In summer: 6:30 am – 5:30 pm
- In winter: 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Entrance fee:
- Adults: 200.00 VND (8 USD)
- Children (from 7 to 12 years old): 40.000 VND (2 USD)
- Children under 6 years old: free
2. Things to know about Hue Citadel City
In the 19th century, Gia Long was the first emperor of the Nguyen dynasty. This dynasty was the last in Vietnam and rule for 143 years. Hue Imperial was built during the reign of Emperor this king in 1805 and completed under the reign of Minh Mang in 1832.
The citadel Hue is the most massive structure be built in the history of Vietnam involving thousands of workers, millions cubic meters of rock and huge volume of burden workload.
The citadel is square in shape locates on the northern bank of Huong River, turning South with total land area of 520 ha, almost 10km in circumference, 6m high, 21m thick and 10 entrances. On the top of the walls that surround it, 24 bastions are established for defensive purposes.
Hue Citadel include two main parts is the Imperial City and the Forbidden City. The Imperial city have about 147 architectural constructions, here is the most important center of political affairs and daily activities of the court and the family of the Nguyen emperors ( 1802 – 1945).
The area of the Imperial city is 36.3 hectares, with 4 gates on the four sides: Ngo Mon gate in the south, Hien Nhon gate in the east, Chuong Duc gate in the west and Hoa Binh gate in the north.
The center area of the Imperial city is the Forbidden purple city with about 9 hectares in area, which is divided into 2 sections: the area of Can Thanh palace and the inner court. Can Thanh palace from Dai Cung gate to Can Chanh place, where the emperors worked and held regular audiences. The inner court including all the other buildings which served as the residence and the place for daily activities of the emperors, their concubines and their servants.
The Hue Citadel includes Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, the Forbidden City, Can Chanh Palace, Kien Trung Place, Dien Tho Palace, The To temple, royal treasury, etc.
3. Outstanding historic sites inside the Citadel of Hue
3.1 Ngo Mon Gate
The Ngo Mon gate has two distinct sections: the ground level and the Ngu Phung pavilion. The ground level consists of five entrances. The main entrance in the middle was always for emperors, the two smaller side entrances were for mandarins and the two remaining arched entrances soldiers, horses, and commoners passed through.
Ngu Phung pavilion has two floors that are entirely made of the precious Tali wood. The Pavilion’s roof forms two rows, two roofs each surrounded with a roofed gallery. The middle section of the roof is covered with yellow enameled tiles and others with dark green ones. On August 19,1945, Ngo Mon bore witness to a momentous event: the abdication of Emperor Bao Dai, signifying the end of the feudatory era in Vietnam.
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Book a tour with a local guide to visit the impressive Hue Citadel and immerse yourself in Vietnam’s rich history. Our guide will share stories about the Nguyen Dynasty, enhancing your understanding of the country’s past. Each monument offers a unique story and architectural beauty, ensuring a comprehensive historical experience. |
3.2 Ky Dai (Hue Flag Tower)
Located in front of the Hue Citadel, being officially constructed under Emperor Gia Long’s reign (1807), the flag tower consists of two parts including a tower and the flagpole. The flag tower consists of 3 layers stacked on top of each other in descending order. The flagpole is placed in the middle of the highest tier, the entire height of the flag tower is 54.5m.
3.3 Thai Hoa Palace
Thai Hoa Palace used to have witnessed a total of 13 coronation ceremonies of the Nguyen Dynasty, from the time of King Gia Long to King Bao Dai. The palace, along with the Dai Trieu Nghi courtyard, was the place of important occasions such as the coronation ceremonies, the king’s birthday, the envoy reception and the meetings held on the 1st and the 15th of the lunar month.The Palace is made entirely of wood, there are 80 pillars in total, all of which are made from ironwood and the pillars were decorated in dragons and clouds, which were the symbol of the meeting between the king and his mandarins.
3.4 Dien Tho Palace
Built in 1804, Dien Tho Palace formerly housed the mothers and grandmothers of the Nguyen emperors. It symbolizes the King’s filial piety towards his mother. This impressive architectural complex comprises over 10 buildings, roughly 100 meters wide and 150 meters long and leaves many tourists in awe.
3.5 Can Chanh Palace
Built in 1804 during Emperor Gia Long’s reign, Can Chanh Palace served as the emperor’s workplace within the Hue Citadel. On the 5th, 10th, 20th, and 25th of each lunar month, the emperor held court sessions here. The palace also hosted important receptions for emissaries and banquets.
3.6 Kien Trung Palace
Kien Trung Palace is one of the repaired works of the Hue Citadel. The Palace was destroyed during the war in early 1947 and was restored from February 2019 to the end of 2023. With a total area of more than 1,000 square meters, Kien Trung Palace was the working and living place of the last two kings of the Nguyen Dynasty: King Khai Dinh and King Bao Dai. This is a typical project of Asian – European architectural style, from construction materials to decorative motifs according to the theme of Hue royal traditions, bearing the mark of King Khai Dinh. On August 1945, at Kien Trung Palace, King Bao Dai’s “Abdication Decree” was formed and passed.
3.7 The To Temple
The To Temple, located at the southwest corner of the Hue Citadel, is a place of worship for the Nguyen kings. It is the largest and most important temple in the Hue Imperial City. The To Temple was built in 2 years (1821-1822), originally used to worship Gia Long King – The To Cao Emperor (hence the name The To Temple). Later, the temple became a place of worship for all kings of the Nguyen Dynasty. Before 1958, the temple had only 7 altars dedicated to kings Gia Long, Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, Tu Duc, Kien Phuc, Dong Khanh and Khai Dinh. In 1958, three kings against the French colonialists Ham Nghi, Thanh Thai and Duy Tan were also enshrined here
3.8 Nine Dynastic Urns
Emperor Minh Mang commissioned the casting of the Nine Dynastic Urns between 1835 and 1837. The place in front of The Mieu Temple to symbolizing the career of the emperors. Emperor Minh Mang requested they were named after the posthumous names of the emperors.
In general, the Nine Dynastic Urns share the similarity in shape and weight, however, they are diversified in types and decorative patterns that signify the universe, animals, trees, artifacts or toponym. They symbolize the unification of the country as well as orthodoxy and the lastingness of the Dynasty.
The nine urns in Hue citadel have been inscribed in the “Memory of the World Register”. The prestigious recognition was awarded unanimously by all 23 member countries at the 10th plenary meeting of UNESCO’s “Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific”, held in Mongolia on May 8, 2024
4. What to wear on your Hue Citadel City?
The Hue Citadel is a cultural heritage site of great historical significance so you need elegant clothes and avoid revealing clothes. In addition, you should wear comfortable clothes and shoes that allow free movement. Plus, you can wear traditional costumes like Ao dai, Ao Nhat Binh, ao Tac to elevate your experience. Wearing traditional clothing while visiting historical sites will help you feel the atmosphere of the feudal period. This will be an unforgettable experience when visiting the Hue Citadel.
You can read more here to know more about Hue Citadel Dress Code