Vietnam - Hue, the Imperial City
Vietnam Information
Population: 83.6 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Hanoi
Major language: Vietnamese
Currency: Dong
Major Religion: Buddhism
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Hue remained Vietnam’s capital until 1945, when Bao Dai, the last of the Nguyen
emperors, abdicated from the throne. Many of Hue’s attractions are found along the banks of
the Perfume River that flows through the centre of the city. On the north bank of the
river is the Imperial Citadel, built in a similar style to Peking’s Forbidden
City, enclosed by 10-metre thick walls and surrounded by a moat. A few km's
further up the river is perhaps Hue’s best-known religious site, Thien Mu
Pagoda, with its distinctive seven-storey octagonal tower. The elaborate mausoleums
of the Nguyen emperors, more like palaces than tombs, are scattered around the countryside on the outskirts of Hue. The mausoleums of Vietnam Emperors Tu Duc, Khai Dinh are particularly
impressive being extravagant complexes of pavilions, temples, courtyards and lakes.
We say: 'Certainly one of the highlights of Central Vietnam, Hue has a wealth of cultural highlights. Despite this a full day, or ideally a day and half, will be sufficient time for most visitors, often eager to head further south to charming Hoi An.'
The Nguyens
In a population of 80 million residents and 800 surnames, Nguyen is the name that
dominates. The name, which dates as far back as the 1st century, is first mentioned
in texts in the 10th century with a nobleman named Nguyen Bac. The Nguyens have
woven their presence and influence through the lives of the rulers in Vietnam’s
history, from the Tran Dynasty to the Le Dynasty, as loyal subjects, in-laws and
trusted advisors. They finally came into power in the 19th century and established
their dominion in 1802 – the last empire to rule Vietnam.
The dynasty’s first emperor, Nguyen Phuc Anh, also known as Emperor Gia Long,
established an imperial palace in Hue and declared Hue the country’s capital.
He became the catalyst that launched the now united country into seclusion,
domination, change and civil wars for the next 150 years. It was a time of influence
by Chinese traditions, suppression of traditional Vietnamese values and beliefs,
modernisation with the building of new roads, overworking and overtaxing of the
lower classes, and later, a time to rise up against the French and Japanese armies.
The last of the Nguyen line was Emperor Bao Dai, who abdicated in 1945 and spent
the rest of
his life in exile in France. During the Nguyen Dynasty, in order to appease and
honour their imperial rulers many Vietnamese had their names changed to the royal
Nguyen; which is why today the name Nguyen fills over half the pages of a
Vietnamese telephone directory!