• Andrew's TravelsVietnamTraveler
    Crossing into the Citadel
    Cot Co (Flag Tower), a distinctive Hue landmarkInside the Citadel; Nine Deities lCannon, made from bronze and symbolic onlyNgo Mon Gate, the south entrance to the Imperial Palace within the CitadelOutside the Imperial Palace; entry via the Hien Lam PavilionInside the Imperial Palace; Thai Hoa PalaceHien Lam Pavilion from inside the Imperial PalaceThe To Mieu TempleAltar inside the To Mieu TempleLooking back to the Hien Lam Pavilion, with the Nine Dynastic Urns, before itTree outside the To Mieu TempleInside the Forbidden Purple City; the 1968 Tet Offensive destroyed much of itWalkwayThe restored Kien Trung Palace (finished in 2023)Kien Trung Palace; the frontKien Trung Palace; close upView from inside the Kien Trung Palace down to the Cot CoView from inside the Kien Trung PalaceInside the Kien Trung PalaceThe last Emporer of Vietnam; Bao Dai, reigned from 1926 to 1945

    Hue; Citadel and the Imperial Palace

    November 20, 2024 in Vietnam ⋅ 🌧 27 °C

    Hue is one of the most significant cultural and historic centres in Vietnam, as it was the former imperial city of the country. Built between 1805 and 1832, the vast Hue Citadel formed the capital of the Nguyen Dynasty until 1945. Within the Citadel lies the once magnificent Imperial City, and within this is the Forbidden Purple City, where only the queen, some concubines, and court eunuchs were allowed to enter.

    After the end of the monarchy in 1945, the Imperial City suffered heavy damage and neglect during the Indochina Wars through the 1980s. The Imperial City was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and is undergoing restoration.

    We walk through the site from one side to the other; see captions on photos for details. Later on, we enjoy more delicious Vietnamese food and Huda beer.    Read more