Hue Photo Gallery - Citadel

Hue's Citadel was completed in 1833 and consists of several sections occupying 2 square km, including the Forbidden Purple City. The fortress is surrounded by 10km of walls. While designed by the French, it was ruined by both the French and the Americans years later. Only a small fraction of the Imperial City has survived. The 37m flag tower pictured here is the country's tallest. Unfortunately, the Ngo Mon Gate was hidden under renovations at the time of my visit. This gate was built in the 1830s as a grand entrance into the Imperial City. The emperor enters through the central entrance that has stone pavement, with government officials entering using the 2 smaller doors. The royal elephants would use the side entrances. The To Mieu Temple houses shrines to the emperors and nine Dynastic Urns that symbolize each emperor's power and stability. 2 dragons are also placed in red phone boxes.