Hue

Tuesday morning, December 4

Hue was the Vietnamese Imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945. It is located in Central Vietnam on the Perfume River and was the focus of severe battles in 1947 during the French War and in 1968 during the American War. Lots of damage was done to the Imperial structures and monuments in those years. A lot of restoration is being attempted, but much work is yet to be accomplished.

The Citadel contains the former Imperial headquarters, living and working areas as well as temples. There are now also museums there.

The various Emperors each constructed elaborate Tombs out in the surrounding countryside. They served as vacation homes for each emperor as well has honoring them for immortality.
We visited 3 tombs.

A gate within the Citadel:

A building in the Forbidden Purple City within the Citadel:

These photos were taken at the Tu Duc Tomb Site built in the 1840s. The grounds are beautifully landscaped:



The Khai Dinh Tomb site was built in the 1920's by an emperor who traveled often to Europe and incorporated Asian and European elements in his tomb.

This is his elaborately decorated throne:
And some detail of the ceramic mosaic:
The ceiling has a 1920's European style (Chagall?) with Asian subject matter:
Statues of imperial advisors with elephant and horse:
And a "modest" pathway from the main tomb to a temple:
In the afternoon we took a cruise on the river.

Today we return to Hanoi.

Tomorrow I fly to Thailand.