In the heart of Hue, the Nguyen Dynasty has been ruling the city and the surroundings for years during the 19th Century. Therefore, during their successive reign, the different emperors have been developing the city and they have been building many monuments in its surroundings.
For instance, the first emperor of the Dynasty, Gia Long, lead the project of the An Cuu Canal (known as Phu Cam canal), linking the Perfume River to Cau Hai Lagoon in order to ease the journey to the south and to enhance the lands south of the city. This is one of the many constructions the different emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty have made during their reign and all of them have marked the city in their own ways according to their own architectural taste.
During their reigns, the Nguyên emperors used to rule directly from the Purple city in the heart of Hue Citadel, North of the Perfume River. It’s important to note that it has been built in several steps and has even been moved before reaching the position we know now, in the middle of the fortified city. Therefore, the royal palace, due to its location on the bank on the Perfume River, gave easy access to the River so the emperors could easily travel by boat upstream the Perfume River.
Ming Mang and Tu Duc during their respective reign had built some secondary palace upstream the Perfume River. A cruise on the river will bring them to their respective palace and on the way they were able to enjoy the landscape designed by paddy rice, forests and local cultures. This cruise is always effective on small dragon boat during approximately 2 hours and half.
The emperors could then to spend some time in a more natural place, enjoying the natural wealth of their territories or just some time with their concubines. Indeed, the emperor Ming Mang is renowned for his numerous concubines and for his sexual appetite. Nowadays, the remains of the magnificent buildings of these two palaces remains and you will be able, according to your imagination, to dive back in their history, trying to revive the life of these emperors.
Concerning the first emperor of the Nguyên Dynasty, Gia Long, he built further upstream the River, a monument dedicated to his first wife before finally deciding this place will also become his own tomb. Today, Gia Long lies in the middle of the nature where just a few monuments testify of his tomb surrounded by ponds covered of water lilies.
For emperor Khai Dinh, he got a lot of inspiration from the Occidental culture. During the first part of his reign, he designed and built An Dinh palace, a peaceful place on the bank of An Cuu canal, where he could rest from his enemies and from the conspiracy of the court. It’s currently possible to visit this palace and you can take time to discover its amazing architecture when you follow our Stroll in Hue. During the second part of his reign he decided to erect his tomb, combining harmoniously Western and Vietnamese architectures with many mosaics and ceramics.
Finally the other emperors of the Nguyên Dynasty such as Dong Khanh, Thieu Tri, Duc Duc and others, also left their own marks in the landscapes of Hue. Indeed their tombs have also been built in the countryside, South of the city.
Therefore, also take time to come discover Hue, to venture in its surrounding countryside, to peacefully cruise upstream the Perfume River on a dragon boat and to visit the monuments built by the different emperors of the Nguyên Dynasty during a bicycle ride, by motorbike or with a car driver and enjoy some more discoveries around Hue.
The travel agency Senteurs du Vietnam recommends you leave around 8.30 a.m. to enjoy the freshness to go up the rivers and visit all the places mentioned above.
It organizes tailor-made private tours with a English-speaking guide directly on site or you can contact it on the internet from Europe and other countries.
