Forbidden purple city of Hue is the Last capital of the unified vietnam build in the 19 th century . It is also the biggest tourist attractions in vietnam . In this area there is lots of Mausoleums of the king and the imperial palaces . Imperial city was forbidden for the common people at that time and only allowed for the king’s family and the close persons of the king . For that reason the city is called forbidden purple city hue . This city has been inspired by the forbidden purple city of Beijing .
Hue city is situated almost , in the middle of the Vietnam , beside the perfume river . The imperial palace and the Mausoleums are inscribed in the UNESCO’s world heritage list . Imperial city of Hue , Thien mu pagoda , Mi dinh pagoda , Mausoleum of Tu Dac , Mausoleum of Khai Dinh , Mausoleum of Minh Mang , Mausoleum of Gia Long , Tiger arena , Cầu Trường Tiền , The Mieu Temple , the Flag Tower , tam giang lagoon and Dong ba Market are some of the famous places to visit in Hue City .
How to reach Hue :
From both Danang and Hanoi there is direct train toward this city . You can book and esquire the train time from the baolao.com . You can also book the train tickets from the train station . In the station you can get the best price for the train tickets .
Bus also runs from the Danang , Hoi an and other city of vietnam . This is also another cheaper option to reach the Hue city .
Buses and the Trains are the cheapest option to travel in Vietnam .
There is regular flight from the Hanoi and Ho chi minh city to reach to the Hue city .
Thien Mu Pagoda :
This is one of the oldest structure in the Hue City . It was build in the year 1601 by the Le Dynasty king Nguyen . A older celestial lady Thien Mu was the inspiration behind making this pagoda .
This pagoda has been the center point behind the movement against USA.
There is a very big bronze bell and a big marbel Tortoise inside this pagoda . The bell is weighted around 3285 kg and it’s sound can be heard from the 10 km distance .
Price : Entry to this pagoda is free of cost
Tiger Arena :
Tiger arena is a closed circular place where emperor Minh Mang saw the fight between tiger and the Elephants . This is a type of entertainment but it was also used for the training procedure of the Elephants for war .
This was build in the time of 19 th century and it is one of the unique places , build in the time of Nguyen Dynasty . Only in the rome , Italy there is another Tiger arena which is called colosseum .
You can see there is lots of gates which can be pulled by a pulley and the animal comes inside the field . This way the fighting starts
Entry fees : Entry to this place is free of cost
Tu Dam Pagoda :
This pagoda is one of the spiritual center in the Hue city . It was build in the 17 th century by the emperor Lê Hy Tông . There is a beautiful multi layered pagoda and some buddhist temples.
Inside this pagoda there is a bodhi tree which was the sample of the original bodhi tree under which goutam buddha got enlighten .
Places inside the pagoda are very quiet . I visited the pagoda in the evening time . There was literally no person present inside the pagoda .
Price : This pagoda entry is free of cost
Perfume river cruise :
Perfume river cruise is one of the relaxing activities in the Hue City . As most of the historical monuments , tombs and the pilgrimage sites are situated in the bank of the perfume river . So this cruise will bring back you in the previous time .
Most of the boats were made of wood and have unique traditional style . This boats were locally called Dragon Boats . Previously , only the kings used to board this types of Boat but now mainly tourist board the boat .
You can board a boat in sharing basis or privately .
Price : The boat cost 100000 VND for touring around one way through the city in a sharing basis from the Thein Mu Pagoda .
Flag Tower :
This huge flag tower has been build by the Nguyen dynasty in the year 1807 . This flag tower contains three huge block one upon another and a flag pole .
It has been repaired several times and the pole was changed several times due to natural disaster and attack from the enemy .
Lastly in 1948 a steel pole was constructed that we see now . From long distance this flag tower can be seen as the base platform .
Entry fees : Entry is free to this flag Tower .
Imperial citadel of Hue :
There is a huge walls around the city and just after that there is wide moat . Inside this citadel there is multiple palaces , temples , library , entertainment room , meeting room , medical facility and kitchens . This city has been made for the king and it’s closely related persons . Common persons were not allowed inside this palace that is the reason this city is called the Forbidden purple city of Hue . The citadel is a completely a rectangular shaped structure . In the four sides of the citadel there was four gate . There are multiple walls inside this citadel .
The major portions that must be seen inside the citadel are ngo mon , thai hoa palace , can thanh palace , kien trung pavilion , duyet thi royal theatre , thai mieu temple , royal treasury ,, co ha garden , the temple , hien lam pavilion any many more .
Entry fees : Upto NGO MON gate you can visit the citadel free but after that the ticket price is 200000 VND per person .
NGO MON GATE :
Ngo mon gate is the main entry gate to the citadel . This is a multi floored gate from where soilders used to watch the activity outside .
Just , in the First floor there is a short exhibition and there , you can see lots of golden stamp . You can also see a huge drum and a bell inside this place . This were used to gather people of city for any important purpose.
Royal Treasury :
This building looks very different than the other buildings here . This is a European architectured building . This building was build in the year 1837 . In older times this building was used to store the treasury of the royal family . Now a days there is nothing to see and the building was in poor condition .
Co Ha Garden :
In my mind this is one of the beautiful place in the entire citadel . This garden has been developed in the early 19 th century and maintained by the first four emperors of the Nguyen dynasty but later it was overlooked by the later generations . This has been the private study place for the emperor Minh Mang . In this garden there is beautiful pond , resting place and lots of bonsai trees . There is lots plants of beautiful flower inside this garden . After long walk inside the citadel this might be good stop as inside the citadel either you can walk or there is the facility of the golf car .
Trieu Mieu Temple :
This is one of the earliest temple inside the imperial citadel . The first king of Nguyen dynasty Nguyen Kim (1476 – 1545) was worshiped here .
In Vietnam temples were build to worshiped the ancestors of the family . Where as Pagoda’s were build to worship the God . Inside this temple you can see the photo of multiple generation of that family .
This is a nice traditional styled building and you can not take picture inside this building . Beside this , there are two more temples but some of the structures were closed for the renovation process .
Bronze Cauldron near Thai Hoa Palace :
This is one of the Amazing things to see inside the imperial citadel . This cauldron is made in the year 1660 and weights more than 1500 kg . This cauldron were the symbol of the Power and the Lastingness of the Vietnam’s emperor . There is beautiful art work outside of the cauldron .
The to Mieu :
This is the biggest temple inside the hue imperial citadel . This is made by the emperor Minh Mang for the ancestral worship in the year 1822 . In front of the temple you can see lots of huge bronze cauldron which were used to worship the ancestors in the Nguyen Dynasty .
This temple is huge and made in the traditional style . The roof is made of the clay tiles and from one side to another side you need to walk at least a minute . Photography is not allowed inside the temple . There is the picture of 9 generations of this kingdom , one after another . The entry gate to this temple complex is beautifully decorated . There is three entry point in the same gate .
Tinh Minh Building :
This building was first made by wood and later in 1927 this current form of the building were erected .
At the time of emperor Thanh Cung this building has been converted as a Medical Clinic . Later in 1950 it has been converted as the private residence of the President BAO DAI .
Thai Binh Reading Pavillion :
Thai Binh reading pavillion has been build by the emperor Thieu Tri in the year 1841. In that time It has been the royal library of the emperor .
This is a two storied building with lots of decoration in the upper corners . This has been the place to spread the knowledge and wisdom inside the kingdom.
Mouseleum of the emperors:
There is all together seven Royal Tombs inside this area . Among this Mausoleum , the mausoleum of Minh Mang , Mausoleum of Tu Dac and Mausoleum of Khai Dinh are most famous . This tombs were used to build in the lifetime of the emperors and after death their body relaxed on this place . After the death of the emperor , their bodies were buried under this mausoleum . The mausoleums were very big in size and lots of tourists come here for the visit .
Entry Price : Entry price for this tombs are 150000 VND individually and little less for the combined ticket .
Dong Ba Market :
It is the biggest Market for the Vegetables , fruits , fishes and meat in the city of Hue . It is situated just beside the Perfume river and most of the items come here by the River boat Where the perfume river is just beside of this market . In the morning time this market is specialized for the flowers and in the late afternoon it becomes the general market . In this market you can see lots of food stalls selling different items , lots of grocery shops , lots of ladies with different types of snails , shimps and fishes and many more . Here you can get also the barber shop , cobblers shop and variety store . This is like a modern day supermarket but it is spread in a large area .
Summary :
Hue has been the last capital of vietnam since 1802 . Nguyen Dynasty has been the last kingdom in the united Vietnam . Mouseleum of the emperors , Buddhist pagodas , imperial citadel and the famous buildings were the main attraction in Hue . Certain places in this city were rewarded as UNESCO World Heritage site . This city has been situated on both the sides of the Perfume river and most of the famous places were situated beside this river bank .
