Hue Imperial City (The Citadel)

Hue is located in central Vietnam. Complex of Hue Monuments lies along the Perfume River in Hue City . The main enceinte, the Capital City, is square in plan, each side measuring 2,235 m. The Imperial City is surrounded by 4 walls with about 600m long each and 4 gates, one of which is Ngo Mon (Noon Gate), considered the symbol of the Citadel.
That architectural system consists of Kinh Thanh (Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel) and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel). Hoang Thanh wasbuilt in 1804 but until the reign of Minh Mang it wasfinished with more than 100 projects: Therefore, when talking about Hue, people often mention and think of the golden palace, the splendid temples, magnificent tombs, or poetic natural landscapes, etc.

For approximately 400 years, Hue has become a great landscape and architectural site. Thanks to the long precious history, Hue has integrated material and spiritual values, which become its own unique special culture. Hue royal complex has been officially recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Once again, in 2003 Nha Nhac, Vietnames Court Music was recognized as World Heritage by UNESCO.

Should you ever come inside the citadel, taking a look into the special feudal relics of immense architectural and cultural values, you will surely more or less love the traditional and classical side of Vietnam.

Image credits: flickr.com

Hue Imperial City (The Citadel)

Thai Hoa Palace

Noon Gate (Ngo Mon)

Corner Detail of the Ngo Mon Gate

Thai Hoa Palace

Corridor - Imperial Enclosure

The lotus lake in Tu Duc Tomb

The Old Citadel of Hue

Forbidden Purple

Hue Citadel Gazebo - This gazebo like structure is right behind the Thai Hoa palace

Minh Mang Tomb

A Grand Archway

Tu Duc Tomb

If you like something mysterious and valuably architectural, you should take a visit to the tombs of ancient Kings. Situated in the middle of the hills on the Southern bank of Perfume River are very beautiful tombs of Nguyen Kings. Among these tombs are the four famous ones with the name and the arrangements of the tomb reflected each Emperor's points of view, personality and tastes.This is majestic Gia Long tomb, imposing Minh Mang tomb, poetic Tu Duc tomb and magnificent Khai Dinh tomb.

Face of Guardian of Tomb of Khai Dinh in Hue

Emperor Khai Dinh Tomb, Hue Vietnam

Thiên Mụ Pagoda

Drying cored stick incense

Girls on bicycles - Cot Co Flag Tower

Hue city A little sailing on a fine day

With the blue water, Huong riverwinding immense moutains, overacross Hue citadel making a chamingscene

Buildings and their reflection along the Perfume river at sunrise in the suburbs of Hue, Vietnam

Lang Co Beach is one of the mostplace beauty scene and best naturalcondition with blue water and the vasttropical forests

Lang Co Beach

Lap An lagoon

Lăng Cô Village Huế

Thanh Toan tile-roofed bridge

Hue by night.

Picture taken from the terrasse (King’s Panorama Bar) of the Imperial Hotel

Trang Tien Bridge

Trang Tien Bridge over Huong river

National high school (Trường Quốc Học Huế) - École primaire supérieur

Besides all these, Hue’s culture is also found in its famous “non la” or conical hats. You can meet a long-haired Hue’s Vietnamese girl in the traditional long dress (Áo dài) and a graceful conical hat.