Cultural values 

Located in the centre of Hue, along the Perfume (Huong) River’s northern bank, the complex of royal architecture represents and demonstrates the power of the Nguyen Dynasty's centralism. Contained in this complex are Kinh Thanh Hue (the Hue Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (the Royal Citadel or Imperial City) and Tu Cam Thanh (the Forbidden Citadel) clustered together, symmetrically placed along the longitudinal axis and facing to the south.

The system of walls combines sophisticatedly both eastern and western architectural styles placed in natural harmony with Ngu Binh Mount, Perfume River, Gia Vien and Boc Thanh islets. Even people implicitly consider these natural landscapes as a part of the complex.

Surrounded by a square wall, almost 600 metres in length on each side, the Imperial City has four gates, of which the south gate (Ngo Mon) is most typical in construction and is widely seen and recognized as the symbol of Hue Citadel. It served not only as the main entrance but was also the place where important events of the dynasty took place. Within the area of the Imperial City, the Forbidden Citadel was the area reserved for daily activities of the royal family.

The main north-south axis, called Than dao (miraculous road), runs through the three walls of the Hue Capital Citadel, Imperial City and Forbidden Citadel and was marked with the important constructions of Hue Citadel. Hundred of small and large buildings were built symmetrically along this axis in harmony with their natural surroundings gives one a feeling of gentle and serenity.  These buildings include Nghinh Luong Pavilion (Pavilion for Fresh Air), Phu Van Lau (or the Pavilion of Edicts was the building where Emperor's edicts and lists of successful candidates of Thi Hoi (National Examination) and Thi Dinh (Court Examinations) were publicised), Ky Dai (Flag Tower), Ngo Mon Gate (the main entrance), Thai Hoa Palace (The Throne Palace, or Palace of the Supreme Harmony, was the building for great court's meetings), Can Chanh Palace (the place for every day working of Emperors), Can Thanh Palace (Emperor's Private Palace), Khon Thai Residence (Queen's Private Apartment), Kien Trung Pavilion (the place for daily activities of Emperors)...

In the distance, to the west of the Capital Citadel, along the Perfume River, are the famous royal tombs and temples, masterpieces in landscape architecture built by the Nguyen Dynasty. Each royal tomb aimed at creating a living place for royal pleasure before becoming an eternal resting place after the king’s death. This resulted in the architecture of royal tombs in Hue being distinguished by unique characteristics.

Each tomb reflects its owner’s life and character: the magnificence of Gia Long’s tomb in the immense landscape of mountains and jungles represents the spirit of a general in war; the symmetry and majesty of Minh Mang’s tomb combiners both man-made and natural mountains and lakes and reveals the powerful will and solemn nature of a talented politician who was also an orderly poet; the peaceful and sombre qualities of Thieu Tri’s tomb reflects the innermost feelings of an outstanding poet who made few achievements in political life; the romance and poetic atmosphere of Tu Duc’s tomb  evoke the elegant and subtle tendency of a poet rather than the strong characteristic of a politician.

In addition, place-names that embellish for the beauty of the Complex of Hue Monuments can be named as: Huong River, Ngu Binh Mountain, Thien Mu Pagoda, Bach Ma Mountain, the Thuan An and Lang Co Beaches...

At the meeting of the 17th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) in Columbia, from the 6th to the 11th of December 1993, UNESCO has come to the decision of recognising the architectural ensemble of Hue as a world cultural heritage. This was a noteworthy event in the cultural history. For the reason that Hue is the first site in Vietnam ever listed in the World Heritage list.

As to the cultural value, a World Cultural Heritage Site, like the Complex of Hue Monuments, has to:

- Be representative of an original artistic achievement, a masterpiece created by Man’s hands;

- Have a great value for its building technique or its architecture in a general development plan for a city or in a program for the embellishment of the sight of a world cultural zone;

- Be representative of an architectural ensemble of an important historical period; Be closely related to important events, to ideas or beliefs having a great influence or to famous historical personalities.

In the closing report of the above-mentioned meeting, the WHC has briefly assessed the value of Hue as follows:

"The architecture of Hue, which has been the Capital of a unified Viet Nam, built at about the beginning of the 19th century, combines the oriental philosophy with the traditions of Vietnam. Intimately mingled with the natural environment, the beauty and special richness of the architecture and decorative art of the building are an original image of the Vietnamese monarchy at its most prosperous period".

ATTRACTIONS

 

USEFUL INFORMATION

Ticket Price (Unit: VND/person/turn):

No.	Sites	Vietnamese visitors		International visitors
		Adult	Children (7-11 years of age)	Adult	Children (7-11 years of age)
1	Imperial Citadel	55,000	10,000	80,000	20,000
2	Tu Duc Tomb	55,000	10,000	80,000	20,000
3	Khai Dinh Tomb	55,000	10,000	80,000	20,000
4	Minh Mang Tomb	55,000	10,000	80,000	20,000

5	Dong Khanh Tomb	30,000		40,000
6	Thieu Tri Tomb	30,000		40,000
7	Hue Museum of Royal Antique	30,000		40,000
8	Hon Chen Temple	30,000		40,000
9	An Dinh Palace	30,000		40,000

Package tour ticket:

No.	Tours	Vietnamese visitors		International visitors
		Adult	Children (7-11 years of age)	Adult	Children (7-11 years of age)
1	Imperial Citadel – Hue Museum of Royal Antique	75,000		105,000
2	Imperial Citadel – Khai Dinh Tomb – Minh Mang Tomb (Free of charge to visit Hue Museum of Royal Antique)	125,000	20,000	180,000	45,000
3	Imperial Citadel – Tu Duc Tomb – Khai Dinh Tomb – Minh Mang Tomb(Free of charge to visit Hue Museum of Royal Antique)	155,000	25,000	225,000	55,000

Some cultural activities are presented at Dai Noi (Hue Imperial Citadel), no extra admission: 

- The Change of Guards ceremony: take place at Ngo Mon from 09:00 to 09:30 (daily held);
- Performance of court music (Small music) in front of Thai Hoa Palace (daily held) at:
      * 08:00 – 10:30 and 14:00 – 16:00
- Performance of court music (Great music) in front of The Mieu (daily held) at:
      * 09:00 – 11:00 and 14:30 – 16:30
- Performance of Hue chamber music (Ca Hue) is daily held in Truong Sanh Residence

There is no performance in heavy rainy weather.

Opening time:
+ Summer: from 6:30 to 17:30
+ Winter: from 7:00 to 17:00

+ Art performances:
- Ca Hue on the Perfume River: please contact Center for Ca Hue Performance Management (22B Le Loi St., Hue City; Tel: (84-234) 3831 575; Fax: (84-234) 3837 400).
- Vietnamese Court Music performances. Contact:
Duyet Thi Duong Theater

Add: Hue Imperial Citadel, Thuan Thanh Ward, Hue City

Tel: (84-234) 3514 989/ 3522 070

Fax: (84-234) 3522 070

 Minh Khiem Duong Theater

Add: King Tu Duc Tomb, Thuong Ba Hamlet, Thuy Xuan Commune, Hue City

Telephone: (84-234) 3836 427

 

Transport service:
There are electric cars from Hien Nhon Gate (Exit way of the Imperial Citadel) to the Hue Museum of Royal Antique (free of charge until the end of 2013).

Hue Monuments Conservation Center
Add: 23 Tong Duy Tan St., Hue City
Tel: (84-234) 3530 840/3523 237/3512 751
Fax: (84-234) 3526 083
Email: huedisan@gmail.com
Website: http://www.hueworldheritage.org.vn