Location: Hue Citadel is located on the Northern bank of the Perfume River.
Characteristic: The size of Hue citadel is 500ha, it contains three circles of ramparts, namely from outside to inside: Kinh Thanh Hue (Hue Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel) and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel).
In the history, Hue citadel was chosen to be the capital city of Southern Kingdom, then became the capital of Tay Son Dynasty. For nearly 400 years, Hue has become a great landscape and architectural site and recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Ngu Binh Mountain in the south is used as a front screening elevation. Its also well-known for two sand dunes of The Con Hen and Con Da Vien on the Perfume River, which are called “dragon on the left, tiger on the right” to protect the capital city.
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Kinh Thanh Hue (Hue Capital Citadel)
Hue Citadel was first constructed in 1805 under the reign Gia Long emperor and completed in 1832 under the reign of Emperor Ming Mang. Ramparts, palaces, and constructional works for royal were built orderly under Emperors of Nguyen Dynasty and it still remains the original features.
The Citadel, square in shape, is 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. Besides, the Citadel has an ancillary gate connecting the Tran Binh Bastion called the Thai Binh Mon (Peace Gate).
Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel or Imperial City)
The Imperial City is situated in the centre of the citadel where the highest office of Viet Nam’s feudalism is set and sanctums honoring the cult of decreased Emperors. The Citadel, also has a nearly square form, with more than 600m long for each side, built of brick 4m high, 1m thick, around which is ditched a system of protection trench. Access to the Imperial City can be made by four entrance gates. Only King can use Ngo Mon Gate. Royal Citadel consists of more 100 beautiful constructional works divided many sectors:
– Sector for the Ngo Mon Gate and the Thai Hoa Palace: Various grand events and ceremonies are celebrated here.
– Sector for worship shrines of the Kings Nguyen: Trieu Mieu, Thai Mieu, Hung Mieu, The Mieu and Phung Tien Temples.
– Sector for internal affairs office: Storehouse for precious objects, workshop for manufacturing various useful articles.
– Sectors for the Kham Van Palace and the Co Ha Garden: This place used to be very special because it was used for Princes’ studying or enjoying.
Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel)
Situated inside the Imperial City, behind the Throne Palace, the Forbidden Purple Citadel is reserved for Emperor and his family. Constructed early under reign of Emperor Gia Long in 1804 with brick walls of 3.72m high, 0.72m thick, about 1,230m in circumference. Its front and back sides are 324m each while either left and right side is more than 290m including 50 architectural constructions of different sizes and 7 gates for facilities of entrance and exit. Dai Cung Mon (the Great Palace Gate) is in the front side for the Kings. Can Chanh Palace (the place for daily working of Emperors). Can Thanh (Emperor’s Private Palace), Khon Thai Residence (Queen’s Private Apartment) reserved for the Queen. Duyet Thi Duong house (Royal Theatre), Thuong Thien (the kitchen for the Kings’ food), Thai Binh Lau (King’s reading room)…
In addition, there are also famous royal tombs and temples of Kings Nguyen outside Hue Citadel. Seven tombs with different aspect are not only a wonderful arch but also combining beautiful, imposing nature and poetic of Hue. Ancient Hue including Perfume River and Ngu Mountain, palaces and citadels, tombs and temples with hundred of historic years are being embellished and recovered by material contribution of Vietnamese and International community in order to keep Hue City as World cultural heritage.