Hué Imperial Palace (Hué Cung Vua) Guide

Hué was the political, cultural and religious capital of unified Vietnam between 1802 and 1945 when the Nguyen Emperors ruled the country. Today, the imperial city is home to many important sites, the most famous of which is the Imperial Palace (or Citadel). The palace is situated on the north banks of the Perfume River which winds its way through the city, and covers an area of five sq km (1.9 sq miles). Surrounded by a wall and a moat, the Citadel can be entered via one of 10 gates. The citadel contains the Nine Holy Cannons that used to defend the palace, the Imperial Enclosure where the Emperor carried out his official business, the Palace of Supreme Harmony and the Hall of the Mandarins. It was also home to the Purple Forbidden Palace which was reserved for use by the Emperor himself; this was almost entirely destroyed during the Vietnam War, however. Today the whole city, which was officially recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, remains an important cultural and religious centre, housing many other historic monuments and attractions, including eight Royal Tombs located outside Hué which house the remains of the Nguyen Emperors.
Air: Phu Bia Airport. Rail: Train: Reunification Express train to Hanoi (from Ho Chi Minh City). Road: Bus: Dong Ba Bus Station. Coach: Private tour operators organise trips to Hué.