If you are short on time, some must-see places you can visit in one day are The Citadel & Forbidden City, Khai Dinh Emperor’s Tomb, Tu Duc Emperor’s Tomb and Thien Mu Pagoda. The first is an ancient city, a replica of the Forbidden City in Beijing while the last is 19th century 7-story pagoda perched on a hill. The complex consists of three temples and a tower looking out to Perfume River. It is the oldest pagoda in Hue and built in honor of Nhu Lai Buddha.
Citadel
Built in the style of the French military architect, Vauban, the royal Citadel of Hue complex has the characteristic of many strongholds and fortresses. Gia Long Emperor had it constructed in 1804, originally in earth, but additionally covered in brick later in the early 19th century.
Surrounded by a wide zigzag moat, the first layer of the royal Citadel is the defensive wall fort of 10 kilometer long, 7 meters high and 21 meters thick. The fort itself has 10 gates for pedestrians and 2 gates for water routes. Within, it also encompasses two other monarchal areas. The Imperial Enclosure, or Dai Noi, is encircled within a wall of 2.5 km long and 6 m wide. The Forbidden Purple City, within a perimeter of 1.3 km, was the reserved place for the private life of the kings and the royal members only.
Inside the complex, there is also a large cluster of smaller constructions. All of them lie around the main axis of the complex, running from north to south. Beginning with the northernmost Flag Tower, followed by the Ngo Mon (Noon) Gate, which was only reserved as a path only for the royal, and some others that show significant architectural value. Entering the Ngo Mon Gate, one will see the Belvedere of Five Phoenixes, also constructed by Emperor Gia Long in 1823 as a pavilion to list the names of successful scholars in the past. The abdication of the last Emperor Boa Dai in 1945 was announced here as well. Another remarkable building is Thai Hoa Palace or the Palace of Supreme Harmony, built 1833, and used as the reception hall and the throne room of the emperor.
Flag Tower
Standing right in front of the Ngo Mon (Noon) Gate on the south, the Flag Tower (Cot Co) is also part or the royal Citadel. The 37m-high tower, also known as the King’s Knight, is Vietnam’s tallest flagpole, erected in 1809 and almost completely destroyed in 1947. It was erected again in 1949 in its present form of three tiers, representing the natural order of earth, human beings and heaven.
Thien Mu Pagoda
Situated on the left bank of the Perfume River is the age-old elegant Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the most beautiful architectural structures in Vietnam. With the outstanding octagonal seven-story tower, it was constructed under the reign of Emperor Thieu Tri in 1844. The king had the pagoda built after having heard that Thien Mu, a Fairy Women, appeared to the people and prophesied that a lord would come to build a pagoda for the kingdom’s prosperity. After that some other small constructions were erected within the compound. For example, there is a six-sided pavilion that shelters an enormous bell of 2052 kg called Dai Hong Chung, which was cast in 1710. In addition the pagoda was the site of the anti-government demonstrators in the early 60s. A shrine and an Austin car behind the pagoda are worth taking a look. The story is the monk Thich Quang Duc, who resided at the shrine, drove the car from the temple to Saigon in 1963 to commit the self-immolation in protest of the government.
