Imperial City gate in Hue

Must-see guide to Hue

Hue was made the capital of Vietnam in 1802 during the feudal dynasties that ruled the country. Nowadays, hundreds of historical relic sites remain in the city and are well worth our visit.

It was a very hot and rainy day when we got there, so we spent a big part of it in a cafe by the river waiting for a thunder storm to pass. There was a distinctive earthy scent from the rainfall and the view was stunning: a bridge over Perfume river with the Imperial City as the background.

For a Vietnamese standard, Hue can be considered somewhat of a “calmer city”.
For quite a few times we found ourselves walking and eating alone  ̶  something that never happened around Hanoi, Saigon or Hoi An.

 

Cyclo Tour, Hue, Vietnam

 

We stayed at the Ngoc Binh hotel not far from the Imperial City (approximately a 25 minute walk from the main entrance). Our room had a private bathroom, tv and included breakfast. Also, for one more dollar you could have AC in the room.
If you’re interested, check the hotel here.

 

The Imperial City

The Citadel opening hours are 8:00 to 17:30. For a proper visit, you’ll need at least 4 hours.
The entrance fee was 6.05€ for each of us.
You’ll find two different prices: one for locals and other for foreign tourists. Locals pay less of course. However, it was the first time we saw this price distinction at a Vietnamese monument  ̶  at least in a noticeable way.

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As we slowly walked through the central entrance in the Ngo Mon Gate to shelter ourselves from the rain that showed up that morning, our heads turned towards a young couple speaking in Portuguese.

– Bom dia!

There’s where we met Adriana and Diogo with whom we spent the rest of the visit.

 

DGJ_1186 - Emperor Only

 

The Citadel was made a UNESCO site in 1993, and is going through gradual reconstruction and restoration, as many of the buildings were destroyed by bombings from the war against the French (1947), the Americans (1968) and some typhoons.

Built in the 19th century, the complex was divided into 6 areas:

• Palaces compound,
• The forbidden purple city,
• Temple compounds,
• Residences,
• Internal affairs compound,
• The Royal gardens

 

There are countless walls and gates separating the different areas.

 

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DGJ_1251 - Last Ornamental Gate....

Imperial City, Hue, Vietnam

 

To see a digital reconstruction of the Imperial City in its prime, check the video:

We started the visit by the regal and colorful Thai Hoa Palace where major royal receptions and ceremonies were held. Here’s where you’ll find most tourists hanging out, but also a ton of information on the history and architecture of the citadel.
For the real touristy-tourists, you can dress in kitschy imperial clothes, sit on a throne and get your picture taken.

 

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After walking outside for a while, we reached the Royal Theater. The building was reconstructed and now houses cultural performances like opera and royal dances, as well as a permanent exhibition with traditional theater costumes, masks and instruments.

 

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Hue 078

 

Even though we didn’t watch any show at the theater, we were lucky enough to listen to a live performance on the Hall of Mandarins, by a group of musicians playing traditional instruments.

 

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The only way out

By now it was lunchtime and inside the complex, we couldn’t find anything to eat besides snacks. Oddly enough, we were told that if we wanted to eat at a restaurant outside the imperial city, we had to buy a new ticket to get in.
Adriana and Diogo suggested to try our luck with one of the guards at a secondary gate:
He might let us out for lunch and re-enter without having to buy a new ticket…

Reluctantly the guard said yes, but not before snapping a picture of all of us with his phone (just to make sure he wouldn’t confuse us with other western people trying to get in). After all, all of us westerns look the same… 😀

 

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Getting back in

In the afternoon we visited the ruins of the Forbidden Purple City and the Emperor’s Reading room. The Forbidden Purple City is like a citadel within a citadel, where only the Emperor, his family, his concubines, and eunuchs lived.

The entire complex is enormous and well-gardened for the most part. The restored buildings encompassed by ponds, trees, and singing birds create a calm environment where you can walk calmly for hours  ̶  and forget the intense fighting that happened there just a few decades ago.

 

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First courtyard - Van Mieu gate - Temple of Literature (Van Mieu)

 

Ceramic and glass dragons are a constant decorative element throughout the architecture, as they are symbols of the monarchy.

 

A guard demon, Hue Citadel gates

 

The temple complex of To Mieu and the 9 dynastic urns, a tribute and worshiping place to the emperors of past dynasties:

 

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A set of incense burners- you can imagine the scale and grandeur in the citadel's heydays

 

It’s funny how in almost every Southeast Asian country you might leave your shoes behind at the entrance of an empty monument, but when you get out, you find this:

 

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Portuguese synchronism

At the end of the visit, we had to say goodbye to our Portuguese friends Adriana and Diogo.
Coincidently, on our way back to the hotel, we got in a tiny French bakery for an afternoon snack and met a Portuguese girl named Ana. The conversation flowed for hours. Living in Hue for a year and a half, she’d never met other Portuguese people in the city.





Moving on

With so much of Vietnam still to see and our Visa expiration date getting closer, we had to move on from Hue to our next destination: Hanoi.
As a former capital of Vietnam, Hue has much more to offer besides the Imperial City. If you can hang around for a bit more time, these are the other places worth your visit:

• A bicycle ride through the countryside
• Tu Duc Tomb (Entrance fee 3.30€ / closed for lunch: 11:30 to 13:30)
• Hue Temple of Literature
• Thien Mu Pagoda (free entrance)
• The tomb of King Minh Mang (Entrance fee 3.30€)
• The tomb of King Khai Dinh (Entrance fee 3,30€)
• Dong Ba Market (Messy and authentic, with great street food. Be prepared to bargain!)
• Hue Festival of Culture and Arts (Held every 2 years, the next one will be in 2018)

 

Hue daily expenses (average for 1 person)

Imperial City entrance ticket: 6,05€
Coffee: 0.62€
1.5L Water bottle: 0.30€
Lunch: 2.28€
Dinner: 3.05€
Accommodation: 4,02€
Bus Hoi An > Hue: 3,91€

If you have any questions or some extra info to share, please leave it in the comments below. Thank you!