Bach
Ma National Park is located approximately 50 km
north of Hue. In the 1930s, a city was located
in the mountains, but it was almost completely
destroyed after the 1946 - 1954 revolution.
Nowadays, all that is left are the remnants of a
city built with roman architecture and buried
under vegetation.
Bach Ma National Park is now considered as
another Dalat, but in the centre of the country.
The temperature never goes below 4°C in the
winter and the hottest summer temperature does
not exceed 26°C.
Bach Ma National Park has a lot to offer, as
much in terms of sites to visit as landscapes to
admire. From the top of Hai Vong Dai, the
highest peak at 1,450 m, one can admire a
fantastic view. The Grand Do Quyen Waterfall,
over 300 m high and 25 m wide, is also
impressive.
Rich vegetation and animal-life also attract
many visitors. The park is home to 233 species
of birds and 55 species of mammals, as well as
extensive flora of more than 500 species.
Extensive scientific research is also carried
out here.
Thuan
An beach is situated near by Thuan An mouth,
where Huong river runs to Tam Giang lagoon and
then to the sea.... In the beginning of the 19th
century, King Minh Mang named the place as Thuan
An, assigned to build Tran Hai frontier post for
defense of the Capital.
Far from Hue 15 km, only 15 minutes by car,
tourists are able to reach the beach. Plenty
small boats, junks drift up and down the river
in the left of the route, and on the right there
are houses, temples, pagodas, rice field and
gardens successively spread out...
Thuan An is a very enjoyable
place for all tourists after a full day to visit
Citadel, mausoleums, pagodas and Hue scenery...
Thuan An is also the place where Hue people
gather to enjoy the fresh air and sea-bathing in
summer time.
Intensive activities of the beach lasts from
April to September, while Hue temperature being
fairly hot. Besides sea bathing, tourists are
able to visit Thai Duong temple where Thai Duong
Goddess is very esteemed by villagers or visit
the temple devoted to the whale, the sacred
animal of the local people.
Leaning against the Truong Son mountains, Chan
May cape is in the shape of an enormous
crescent. It is next to Lang Co Beach and north
of Hai Van Pass. These beaches are considered
the nicest in the central area.
Lang Co Beach is 10 km long
with white sand and clean and shallow water. The
in-season is from April to the end of July, with
an average temperature of 25oC and 158 sunny
hours per month.
According to research of the Institute of
Physics and Hydrology, the water in the area is
accessible to the vessels 10 tons, and the
Vietnamese government plans to build a harbour
in Chan May. The harbour will be a starting
point for tourists. It is planned for Chan May
harbour and the Dung Quat industrial zone to
greatly contribute to the economic development
of central Vietnam.
The interior was built following classical
traditions: two rows of stained-glass windows
are located in the upper gallery and a holy
cross made of steel and concrete is in the
middle alley.
In one of the cathedral's wings is the tomb of
former archbishop Philippe Nguyen Kim Dien
(1921-1988). At the front of the cathedral are
two statues: Saint Phero on the right, and Saint
Paulo on the left.
The Phu Cam Cathedral is
located in Phuoc Vinh Ward, Hue City. It was
built in 1965 following modern architectural
designs by architect Ngo Viet Thu. New concept
were used, such as the use of supporting pillars
attached to walls. Three supporting pillars in
each corner stretch out to create a large space
for the altar.
Vi Da is the name of a very famous territory of
Hue. Lying along the Huong river, Vi Da is a
hamlet established 200 years ago.
Even today, the tourist can
see along the two sides of the road to Thuan An
those ancient houses, built after the classical
architecture of 3 principal rooms and 2
auxiliary ones at the 2 ends, the roof is
covered with "yin & yang" tiles (tiles
imbricated the ones within the other), with its
top having 2 dragons, in front of the house
there is a courtyard paved with bricks, and a
brick screen is accompanied by a rock-work (a
miniature - mountain).
The most famous is the residence of the Prince
Tuy Ly Mien Trinh, which has a three - door
portico made after the architecture of Tam Quan
( 3 doors). Here is also the Ba La Mat pagoda
built at the beginning of the 19th century, the
communal temple of Vi Da, the Tu Bi Hi Xa
pagoda...
Beside that, Vi Da is also famous for its
gardening traditions, its gardens have been
blossoming all year long in the 4 seasons.
There are nine greatest bronze urns in Vietnam
placed in the shade of the Hien Lam pavilion, in
front of the Mieu temple and southwest of the
Royal citadel.
They were cast by Emperor Minh Mang in 1836.
After their casting, the Nine Dynastic Urns were
placed in accordance with the altars in Mieu
temple, at the position as today. The 17
relieves on each urn comprise what are most
typical of the country from the Lang Song
province to the Ca Mau cape.
They are concentrated on the
following themes: stars, mountains, seas and
oceans, vehicles, valuable forestry and sea
products of Vietnam early in the 20th century.
The nine dynasty urns were cast by Minh Mang to
symbolize the dynasty sovereignty. They are a
cultural heritage , almost intact and rare in
this harsh-weather and war-worn land.
The name of the pagoda takes its source from a
legend. It was told that long ago, there
appeared an old woman every night on the hill
where the pagoda stands today. She told local
people that a Lord would come and build a
Buddhist pagoda for the country's prosperity.
Lord Nguyen Hoang, on hearing that, ordered the
construction of a pagoda of the Heavenly Lady.
The pagoda is situated on Ha
Khe, on the left bank of the Perfume river, in
Huong Long village, 5 km from central of Hue
city.
It was built in 1601, and then Lord Nguyen Phuc
Tan had renovated in 1665. In 1710 Lord Nguyen
Phuc Chu had a great bell cast (2.5 m high,
weighed 3,285 kg) and a stele (2.58 m high)
erected on the back of a marble tortoise in
1715. In the Nguyen Dynasty, Kings such as Gia
Long, Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, Thanh Thai all had
the pagoda restored.
Phuoc Duyen tower (at first
called Tu Nhan tower) was built in 1884 by King
Thieu Tri. Phuoc Duyen tower has seven-stored
with 21m high in octagonal shape.
Dai Hung shrine is a
main-hall and a magnificent architecture. In the
main-hall, besides the bronze cast statues,
there preserved some precious antiquities: the
bronze gong cast in 1677, the wooden gilded
board with Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu's inscriptions
in 1714.
On the both sides of the
pagoda there are a bonze's room and a guest-room
for visitors. In front of the pagoda is flowers
and ornamental plant. At the back is a calm and
romantic pine-tree garden.
The pagoda was heavily damage in 1943. Priest
Thich Don Hau has organized a great renovation
of the pagoda for more than 30 years since 1945.
Nowadays it becomes more and more magnificent
and attracts tourist near and far.
This three-story structure is 58 m long, 27.5 m
wide, 17 m high and serves as the main entrance
to Imperial city. There are five gates to Ngo
Mon, with the central gate being reserved for
the kings only.
The two adjacent gates were exclusively for
court officials, and the two other outer gates
were used for servants and members of the royal
entourage. On top of the arch in the Five
Phoenix Tower where the king sat during
festivities.
This was also where
ceremonies were organized to announce the names
of successful candidates of royal examinations.
During the reign of the Nguyen Kings, Ngo Mon
Gate was only opened when the kings were passing
by or receiving foreign ambassadors.
The
pagoda is situated at 92/6/4 Dien Bien Phu
street, Truong An quarter, Hue City. The facade
is direct to the North-East, in front of it is
Van Phuoc hill in which has Thien Lam pagoda,
Van Phuoc pagoda, Tinh Do pagoda. At the back,
there are Kim Tien, Tu Quang and Tuong Van
pagodas. It was founded in 1932 by Bhikhuni Dieu
Huong, Dieu Khong, Mrs Cong Ton Nu Thi Ban, Ton
Nhan Ung Ban, Ung Uy, Ton That Tung.
In 1936 the Main-hall of the pagoda was
established. The pagoda has: a Main-hall in
which a high altar is for Duc The Ton and Tam
The. The lower alter is for Kshitigarbha
Bodhisattva, statue of Bodhisattva Te Chi. In
the middle of the main-hall has a gilt dragon,
lion, tortoise, phoenix carving escutcheon
incripted "Dieu Duc Pagoda" Most Ven Phuoc Hue (Thap
Di Da pagoda in Binh Dinh).
At the back of the main-hall
is an altar for Bhikhuni Dieu Huong - founder of
the pagoda linking the main-hall is a drum hall,
then the back house, the left is a house for
Dhamma - preaching Hall, the right is a house
for Most Ven succeeding generation. Two sides of
the back house are two houses for nunnery
regulations. The pagoda was rebuilt in 1948,
1971, 1991 by Old Bhikkhuni Dieu Huong,
Bhikkhuni The Yen and Thieu Tri.
Hue's Museum of Antiquity is a gallery
displaying collections of bronzeware, ceramics,
chinaware, furniture, royal costumes and
personal belongings from former Vietnamese
emperors.
Now located at 3 Le Truc Street, the museum was
built in 1845 by Emperor Thieu Tri.
The elegant building,
initially called Long An Palace, was dismantled
and rebuilt in 1909 at its present location to
serve as a library and office.
This building is a monument
of remarkable value. It contains some wooden
panels that are inscribed with poems and essays
written by Emperor Thieu Tri himself.
Spanning the Huong river there are more than ten
bridges but only one becomes Hue symbol, that's
Trang Tien bridge.
As written in Annual of Unified Great Nam by "
The office of Vietnam History" of the Nguyen
Dynasty, "the metal bridge Trang Tien in the
south east of the Capital commenced to be built
in the 9th year of King Thanh Thai (1897) and
then finished in 1899. The bridge is about 400m
long with 6 spans".
In August 1904, a terrible typhoon devastated
the Center of Vietnam, and 6 spans of the bridge
were broken down, only two spans remained. In
1906 the bridge was reconstructed. Trang Tien
bridge has been repaired so many times again.
Near the bridge right gate there was once a
small market at the Trang Tien wharf, named Dong
Ba. Nowadays Dong Ba is a trading center of Hue
city.
The Perfume river, Huong Giang in Vietnamese,
has two main sources in the Truong Son
mountains: the Ta Trach and Huu Trach rivers. It
is 30 km long and features and extremely slow
current as the water is at almost the same level
as the sea.
The river runs through the village of Kim Long,
Nguyet Bieu, Vy Da, Dong Ba, Gia Hoi and Bao
Vinh. The view on both sides is magnificent with
the citadel, gardens, pagodas, towers and
temples; their reflection on the water makes the
river even more poetic.
Many locals think that Hue has such peaceful,
gentle and tranquil landscapes because of the
Perfume river. Ngu Binh mountain's imposing and
symmetrical outline is surrounded by Ta Bat Son
and Huu Bat Son mountains. During the Nguyen
Dynasty, emperor Gia Long built the capital of
Hue next to Ngu Binh to use it as a shield.
Hue's landscape is
magnificent surrounded with the Perfume (Huong)
river and Ngu Binh mountain. The oil capital is
even sometimes called Huong-Ngu city.
Quoc Hoc high school was founded pursuant to the
royal decree dated September 17th 1896 and the
decree on November 18th 1896 of the French
Resident-Superior in Indochina. The school was
built on the site of a former squadron
headquarter - a royal navy headquarters.
In 1915 when the decree
annulling Emperor ancient exam in the province
and the ancient exam of the capital in the North
was issued, Quoc Hoc high school was rebuilt.
The rows of thatch roofed apartments were torn
down and replaced by two rows of buildings, the
wall made of brick, the roof covered with tiles.
It was solid and comfortable according to the
western European architecture. Most of the
architectures are still extant.
The Temple of Letters is a worship temple
founded by the Nguyen dynasty to dedicate to
celebrated scholars of Confucianism.
Its construction was built in
1808 on a low hill beyond the Thien Mu pagoda,
on the left bank of the Huong river. All items
of Hue Temple of Letters were erected on a
square surface of 160m long on each side
enclosed by La Thanh ( surrounding wall). There
was once a complex of 50 big and small
constructions including 32 steles which bore
names of doctors and four other steles.
The Temple of Letters was many times renovated
and many sub-constructions were built,
especially in Minh Mang and Thieu Tri's time.
Hue Temple of Letters is a valuable historic
remains. To visit Van Mieu, tourists can
understand more about the tradition of knowledge
appreciation, scholars administration and study
encouragement of our ancestors from the old
time.
Throne palace, the building for great court's
meetings, faces the Noon gate and lies right on
the axis piercing the centre of the Royal
citadel. It was constructed in 1805 by Emperor
Gia Long and used later in 1806 for his
coronation.
In 1833 it was moved onto a foundation of 2.33m
high as now by Emperor Minh Mang. It is 44m
long, 30.5m across, 11.8m high and contains a
5-compartment, two-bay main building connected
with a 7-compartment, two-bay front building.
The columns are lacquered red
and decorated with golden dragon designs. On the
roof ridge rest two dragon designs paying homage
to a moon. Eaves and roof corners are ornamented
with head-turning dragon designs. These and the
moldings along the eaves are inlaid with
multicoloured ceramic chips.
The roof is covered with
yellow enameled tiles. Constructors of the
Throne palace have created two contradictive
features: cool inside in summer and warm in
winter.
Throne Palace is the site
where solemn ceremonies took place such as: the
Coronation Day, the Crown Prince Coronation Day,
Emperor's Birthday Anniversaries, etc.
Thanh Toan tile-roofed bridge crosses a canal
flowing from the beginning to the end of Thanh
Toan village, Thuy Thanh commune, Huong Thuy
district. The village is about 8km from Hue city
on the eastward.
This is an arched wooden bridge, 17m long and 4m
wide. On both sides of the bridge length are 2
rows of wooden platforms and parapets for people
to lean their backs. The tile-roofed Thanh Toan
bridge is not only an ancient architectural
remain with highly historic and cultural values
but also a tourist attraction.
The bridge was built over 2 centuries ago and
damaged many times by storms, floods and wars.
In September 1991, the bridge was greatly
renovated according to the old design and
officially accepted by the Cultural Ministry as
a national remains, a rare and appreciated
beauty-spot of the whole country.
Standing just on the bank of the Huong river
inclined to poetic dreams and 10km upstream of
Hue, the Hon Chen temple for cult of Po Nagar,
the Goddess of the ancient Cham minority. After
then, the Vietnamese continued the cult and name
the Goddess as Heaven Goddess Y A Na.
This temple for Goddess
appeared in this place centuries ago, but with a
very simple design, and after then,
reconstructed with a larger and more beautiful
architectural scale in 1886.
The Hon Chen temple is
situated at a lovely site seated on the slope of
the mountain Ngoc Tran with sheer cliff and
mirroring in the deep blue water of the Huong
river.
There are eight royal tombs in Hue, being the
final resting places of the Nguyen Kings.
Construction of the tombs was very meticulous
and started while the king was still alive. Most
of the tombs face the southwest, direction of
the Imperial city. Each toms consists of two
complexes. The first is reserved for funeral
services and the second one is exclusively for
the toms. Generally, each tomb is enclosed in a
surrounding rampart called "la thanh".
However, each tomb internal arrangement is
different from one another; particular
arrangements reflected each king's points of
view, personality and tastes.
The construction of the tomb of Minh Mang
started in 1840 and was completed in 1843. It is
located in an enclosed hilly area of 18ha in Cam
Khe village, 12 km from the centre of Hue.
Minh Mang tomb is a standard
architectural complex consisting of 40 big and
small constructions which include palaces,
temple, pavilions, etc., designed on symmetric
axis along the Dai Hong gate outside to the foot
of La Thanh behind the Emperor's tomb.
Visit to Minh Mang tomb,
tourists fancy that they are wandering in a
world of painting, poetry and philosophy -
besides the strictness, majesty and symmetry of
the architectural constructions. The tomb of
Minh Mang has an air of magnificence and
formality, and its architectural design
harmoniously blends with its natural
surroundings.
The tomb of Tu Duc is situated on Duong Xuan
mountain in Duong Xuan Thuong village, on the
bank of the Perfume river, 8km from the centre
of Hue.
The construction started in
1864 and was completed in 1883. Also called Tomb
of Modesty, the necropolis complex is enclosed
by a thick wall following the contour of the
hill, among a pine tree forest. Tu Duc tomb is
not only one of the most beautiful works of
royal architecture of the Nguyen dynasty but
also is a romantic picture of mounts and lakes.
The tomb was built between 1920 and 1931. It is
located on top of the Chau E mountains, 10km of
Hue. Located in a vast expanse of wilderness,
Khai Dinh tomb looks like a magnificent palace
perched on the slope of a limestone mountain. It
is a accessible by climbing 109 stone steps.
Unlike the construction
materials used for the other tomb, Khai Dinh
mausoleum was built with modern materials such
as steel and reinforced concrete. The peculiar
feature of the tomb is the magnificent porcelain
decorations on the walls, columns and ceilings.
The tomb of Gia Long is located 16km from the
centre of Hue, on top of the Thien Tho mountain,
on the west bank of the Huong river.
Construction of the tomb began in 1814 and was
completed in 1820. Located in a vast land
covered with a wide canopy of old pine trees,
the mausoleum was built according to a
monumental but simple design.
In front is a lotus pond.
Behind the pond is a large terraced yard divided
into three different levels. The first level was
used as the waiting area and is bordered by two
rows of elephant and horse statues.
Dong Khanh tomb is located on the land of Cu Si
hamlet, now Thuong Hai village, Thuy Xuan
commune, Hue city. The tomb was built in 1917.
The whole architecture of the tomb are divided:
The worship temple, in
general, the constructions still bear the
traditional figures : house with multi
succeeding roofs. In the main temple and its
dependent houses, the familiar splendid red and
gilt pillars with decoration of four seasons and
four Holly animals are still seen. Most
noteworthy is Ngung Hy temple - the best
conserved place of famous red and gilt arts, of
famous lacquer arts of Vietnam.
The tomb area: the tomb
design was almost completely Europeanized from
the architectural peculiarity, decorative model
to building materials - Bi Dinh is a variation
of Romance architecture blended with Asian
architecture with tall, thin mandarin statues
from cement and bricks (instead of stone), tile
and carreau bricks.
In general, Dong Khanh tomb was beginning of the
mixture of European and Asian, of the old and
new architecture.
Thieu Tri's tomb lies in Chu Chanh village, Thuy
Bang commune, Huong Thuy district, about 8km
from the city. The tomb was built in 1849 and
divided into two parts: the tomb area and temple
area.
The tomb area: on the right
with Nhuan Trach lake is the bronze gate leading
to big Binh Dai. The two rows of stone statues
on the left and right of the court are typical
for the sculpture in the first half of 19th
century in Hue. Ngung Thuy lake looks like a
crescent moon barring in front of Buu Thanh.
The temple area : after
passing the marble gate and another three steps
leading to Bieu Duc temple, tourists will go
through Hong Trach gate. In the main temple
there engraved over 450 word boxes including
poems with education and literature values.
Thieu Tri's tomb lies there
with simple and intimate beauty, leans its back
against the foot of Thuan Dao mount, in front of
the tomb stretches flat land with lushly green
trees and rice-fields from the Huong river 's
bank up to Lim bridge.
