Tag Archives: Hue City

Sep 10

Hermitage Bien Duc Thien An_Hue City

Posted on by

Location: Hermitage Bien Duc Thien An is situated on the Thien An Hill, between the tombs of Thieu Tri and Ming Mang, about 6km from the southwest of Hue ancient capital.

Characteristics: The Hermitage Bien Duc Thien An, usually name Thien Duc Hermitage, has been founded in Summer 1940 by the Bien Duc French hermits with the name of Thien An (Peace from Heaven).

The hermitage is formerly managed as an infirmary and a school. To day the hermitage is only a place for religious formation.

The hermitage is surrounded by a quiet pine forest. Walking in this Thien An pine hill, the tourist would think he is somewhere in the forests around Da Lat.

Here is the Thuy Tien Lake, and there the Luu Ly Lake, all this contribute to enhance the charm, the poetic and dreamy spell of the Thien An Hill, making it a tourism and entertainment site.The hermitage with this quiet and silent environment helps its members to deepen in their religious meditations, and also creates more favorable conditions to all those who come here to fray and search for peace of mind.

Sep 10

Hue complex Monuments

Posted on by

The complex of Hue Monuments straddling the Perfume River, most of which remaining unchanged were officially recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 2003 by UNESCO.

The Imperial City of Hue, the capital of Viet Nam during the reign of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last one in Viet Nam is one of the oldest cities in Viet Nam.

The complex of Hue Monument is a typical example about the sophisticated combination between architecture and nature, the Eastern and Western architecture based on the North and the South in compass, which have 3 rounds: the outside one is the wall, the middle is the imperial citadel and the imperial palace is in the last one.

Palaces are splendid and magnificent along grandiose Ky Dai and Ngo Mon. On the yard of The Mieu (Temple), there is a treasure called nine crowns decorated with picturesque and vivid patterns about nature, plants, animals and customs of Vietnamese, reflecting technological achievement and cooper casting art in the 19th century.

7 royal tombs have their own architectural style and characteristics full of different impression of 9 Nguyen different dynasties.

There are some antique temples that still remain now such as Thien Mu, Dieu De, Tu Dam, Thuyen Ton, Thanh Duyen.

Sep 10

An Hien Garden House_Hue City

Posted on by

Location: An Hien Garden House is located in Xuan Hoa Village, Huong Long Commune, Hue City on an area of 4,608m2.
Characteristic: An Hien Garden has been described as a fine, sharp, and unique work by many writers. In the garden, many kinds of flowers grow. There are popular kinds of flowers such as jasmine, periglacial, pomegranate, sunflower, climbing rose and indigenous roses.

This was originally the residence of the 18th daughter of Duc Duc Emperor. After 1895, it was transferred to Mr. Pham Dang Thap, a son of a high-ranking mandarin under Gia Long reign. In 1920, this house was transferred to Mr. Tung Le. The last owner of this house was Mr. Nguyen Dinh Chi, a province chief. He moved into the residence in 1938. When he died, his wife, Mrs. Dao Thi Yen continued to live in this house. She was the person who led the school boycott of Dong Khanh students against the French colonialism in 1927. She then became the Principal of Dong Khanh High School, member of the sixth and seventh National Assembly, and a commissioner of Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee. Accordingly, An Hien Garden House is closely connected with the name, age, life and cause of an active nationalist who had a great contribution to Hue City.

The gate of the house has an ancient arch design. The gate roof is decorated with a tiger-face figure and stylized designs on both sides. In the middle of the gate, from the outside, under the roof is a book-shaped panel embossed in the wall. A brick board of two Chinese characters meaning An Hien is inlaid with pieces of green and white terracotta in the black background. Above the panel, there are symmetrically two bats spreading their wings and looking down the gate. Right under the book-shaped panel is a colorfully and elegantly tiger-faced figure in a semicircular shape.

Aristocratic flowers consist of all kinds of orchids and land orchids. Besides the modern roses imported from the European GauJard and Meilland companies, visitors can find wild momentous roses. Particularly, the garden has a big camellia presented by a Japanese Flower Association. In addition to the flower abundance, the garden also has many precious fruit-trees yielding year-around sweet fruits, namely mangoes, durian, Thieu litchi, especially Tien Dien persimmon which are brought from Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh Province by a great-grandchild of the great poet Nguyen Du as a present for the family of Nguyen Dinh Chi. This is a precious and rare kind of persimmon; it bears very delicious seedless fruits every July.

An Hien Garden House is a special cultural characteristic contributing to the beauty of Hue. Entering the garden, visitors will have a feeling of living in a miniature universe, in a peaceful and charming world. It has an attraction which is always secret as an unfinished book.

Sep 10

The Hue Royal Theater (Duyet Thi Duong)

Posted on by

One of two royal theaters in Huế, Duyệt Thi Dường Royal Theater was built by King Từ Đức (1848-1883) for the presentation of performances of royal music, dance and tuồng. Recently restored with the assistance of UNESCO, the theater is now once more used for performances of royal music and dance, tuồng opera and traditional music of Huế, with four 30-minute performances daily presented by members of the Huế Royal Palace Arts Troupe.

Location: Royal Theater is located in the east of the Quang Minh Palace (Palace of Brightness) in the Forbidden Citadel.
Characteristics: The Royal Theater was the oldest of Vietnamese traditional stage that remained. It was closed after the end of the monarchy (Jan 8th, 1945).

During the U.S temporary occupation it was used by the South Government for the Hue Music College (present-day Hue Art University). The Royal Theater was built by Emperor Minh Mang in 1826. It was large, rectangular-shaped with curved eaves, similar to those of Hue pagodas and communal houses, supported by two rows of iron-wood, red lacquered columns decorated with intertwined dragon and cloud designs. On each column hung a painting of Hue scenery in a golden frame, carved with dragon designs. The sky-blue ceiling above was painted with figures of sun, moon and stars, symbolizing the universe. The building was connected with the royal living quarters by snaky roofed galleries.

A square-shaped stage occupied the central part of the floor. No decoration was used to distinguish the real world from the theatrical one. Behind the stage were two doors. Actors and actresses made their entrances from the right-side and exited on the left. Behind the wall was a large room for storing scripts, theatrical headgear, footwear and props. The highest position of this room was occupied by an altar dedicated to two founders of the court opera theater. The room opened onto the court east of the Forbidden Citadel (this entrance was used by actors and actresses).

Across the stage was a high tower of two levels. The top level, next to the western wall, was reserved to the queen, concubines and maidservants. On the ground level was a carved chair for the Emperor. These two levels were kept separated by a bamboo blind which offered the spectators a good view of the outside, preventing them from being seen. Only the fluttering sounds made by fans, such as birds’ wings, or giggles could sometimes be heard.

On both sides of the Emperor’s carved chair were other chairs for State guests. There sat the Governor General and the Superior Resident sometimes during the French occupation.

Sep 10

Bach Ma National Park_Hue City

Posted on by

Location: Bach Ma National Park is approximately 50km south of Hue City.
Characteristics: It has a temperate climate much like that of Dalat, Sapa and Tam Dao. However, since it is located so close to the sea, the temperature in winter never goes below 4oC (39.2oF) and the highest temperature in summer never exceeds 26oC (79oF).

It was first protected as a series of forest reserves in 1937, and was declared a protected area by the government of South Vietnam in 1962. In 1986 the area was established as a national park. The forests of the park, like Cat Tien National Park, suffered from the use of defoliants like Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

Given these advantages, the French transformed Bach Ma into a summer resort in the early 1930s. The area comprises 139 villas and auxiliary buildings, such as the post office, bank, tennis court, etc. Unfortunately, the war and lack of maintenance have significantly affected these constructions.

In 1986, after 10 years of reunification, the State established a network of 87 natural reserves including Bach Ma. On 15 July 1991, the Bach Ma National Park was officially founded.

Bach Ma has breath-taking natural landscapes. The highest peak is Hai Vong Dai (Sea Observation Post), 1,450m high, where people can have a panoramic view of the immense sea and surrounding scenery. Do Quyen Waterfall is astounding and huge in the wooded mountain. It is more than 300m high and 20-30m wide. It is amazing to watch the silver water running into the bright red of water-rail flowers. Bac Chi Waterfall, about 20m high, roars all year round. Five lakes – a system of large lakes – has clean and cool water, created by the block of black granite stretching along Kim Qui Spring. This is a good place for camping, bathing, and outdoor activities.

Still, the beautiful National Park houses 931 species of animals of which 83 wildlife species, including tigers and monkeys. It is also home to 333-odd species of birds known to inhabit Vietnam. More than 1,406 species of plants have also been identified. Apart from Eco_tourism, the Bach Ma National Park has an advantage of being close to Vietnam’s three world cultural heritage sites (Hue Imperial City, Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Cham Towers).

So, tourists usually add the park to their itinerary. With highly-valued natural resources, Bach Ma does not only gratify thousands of visitors but also attract scientists.  The best time to visit Bach Ma is from February to September. Admission is 10,000VND. It is open from 7 am to 5pm.