5 Places to Visit in Hue | What To Do in Hue

Summary

Discover the historical treasures of Hue, Vietnam, from 1802 to 1945, once the capital and home to the Nguyen Dynasty. Explore the impressive tombs of Emperors Minh Mang, Khai Dinh, and Tu Duc, each showcasing a blend of Chinese, Vietnamese, and European architectural styles. Visit the serene Thien Mu Pagoda by the Perfume River and the UNESCO-listed Imperial City, a beacon of ancient Vietnamese royalty and culture. Experience the rich heritage and natural beauty that Hue has to offer.

Takeaways

• 🏰 Hue was the capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945 and the residence of the last Vietnamese emperors, the Nguyen dynasty.
• 🌍 Five historical places to visit in Hue for a deeper understanding of Vietnamese history and culture.
• 🏰 Ming Mang Tomb, built in 1840-1843, showcases the emperor's interest in Confucianism and Chinese-influenced architecture.
• 👑 Emperor Minh Mang had 142 children and 43 wives, contributing to the prevalence of the Nguyen last name in Vietnam.
• 🎭 Khai Dinh Tomb is a unique architectural fusion of Chinese, Vietnamese, and European Gothic elements, built during the reign of a controversial emperor.
• 🌳 Tu Duc Tomb, built between 1864 and 1867, served as both a mausoleum and a recreational area for the emperor.
• 🕊️ Thien Mu Pagoda, located near the Perfume River, is a significant Buddhist site with a rich history and beautiful surroundings.
• 🔥 The Imperial City in Hue is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its sophisticated architecture and historical significance.
• 💸 Ticket prices and visiting hours for the historical sites, with recommendations for the best times to visit.
• 🍽️ A forthcoming video will explore delicious local food in Hue, encouraging subscribers to stay tuned for more information.

Q & A

What was the role of Hue in Vietnam's history?

Hue served as the capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945 and was the home of the last Vietnamese emperors, the Nguyen dynasty.

How many workers were involved in the construction of Minh Mang's tomb?

The construction of Minh Mang's tomb involved 10,000 workers.

How long did it take to complete Minh Mang's tomb?

Minh Mang's tomb was completed in 1843, three years after it was built in 1840.

What is significant about the architectural style of Minh Mang's tomb?

The architecture of Minh Mang's tomb was influenced by Chinese concepts, focusing on the harmony between landscapes and buildings.

How many children and wives did Minh Mang, the second emperor of the Nguyen dynasty, have?

Minh Mang had 142 children and 43 wives.

What is unique about Khai Dinh's tomb compared to other tombs in Hue?

Khai Dinh's tomb is unique for its architectural fusion of Chinese, Vietnamese, and European Gothic elements.

What happened to the Hue Imperial City during the American Vietnam War?

The Hue Imperial City suffered serious damage during the 1968 military campaign known as the Tet Offensive, with only 10 major structures remaining out of 160 buildings.

When is the best time to visit Thien Mu Pagoda?

The best time to visit Thien Mu Pagoda is in the early morning or in the afternoon when the sun goes down.

What is the significance of the car housed in Thien Mu Pagoda?

The car housed in Thien Mu Pagoda was used by monk Thich Quang Duc before he burned himself to death in protest against religious freedom violations.

What is the entrance fee for adults to visit the Minh Mang tomb?

The entrance fee for adults to visit the Minh Mang tomb is 100,000 Vietnam dong.

What is the opening hour for the Hue Imperial City?

The Hue Imperial City is open from 8 am to 5 pm.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Exploring Hue's Historical Sites and Emperors

This paragraph introduces the historical significance of Hue, Vietnam, as the former capital and home to the Nguyen dynasty. It highlights five must-visit places to understand Vietnam's history, emphasizing the importance of subscribing to the channel for more content on Vietnamese culture and travel. The first historical site discussed is the Minh Mang tomb, built in 1843 with the labor of 10,000 workers, showcasing the emperor's dedication to his resting place and his opposition to French influence. The architecture reflects Chinese concepts of harmony between landscapes and buildings. The tomb is open until 5 pm, with an adult ticket priced at 100,000 Vietnam dong. The video also mentions the Khai Dinh tomb, known for its unique architectural blend of Chinese, Vietnamese, and European Gothic elements, and the creative yet controversial emperor behind it. The third site is the Tu Duc tomb, a beautiful mausoleum that served as both a sanctuary and a recreational ground for the emperor, with a unique design and serene natural surroundings. The paragraph concludes with a suggestion to visit all royal tombs in the morning and the Thien Mu Pagoda in the afternoon, a beautiful site near the Perfume Lake with historical and cultural significance.

05:05

🕌 Discovering Thien Mu Pagoda and Hue's Imperial City

The second paragraph continues the exploration of Hue's historical sites, focusing on the Thien Mu Pagoda, known for its picturesque location by the Perfume Lake and its significance in Vietnamese Buddhism. The pagoda is associated with a legendary old woman's prophecy and was constructed under Lord Nguyen Hoang's orders. It houses a car used by the monk Thich Quang Duc, famous for his self-immolation as a protest. The pagoda suffered damage in 1943 but was restored over 30 years. The best times to visit are early mornings or sunsets, and it offers free entrance and boat trips on the Perfume River, except during the flood season from October to November. Lastly, the paragraph discusses the Hue Imperial City, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993, with architecture inspired by Beijing's Forbidden City. The city endured significant damage during the Tet Offensive in 1968, with only 10 major structures surviving. The complex is recommended for visitation in the cooler afternoon hours, with an adult ticket costing 150,000 Vietnam dong. The video ends with a teaser for the next episode, promising local Hue cuisine experiences and an invitation to subscribe.

Keywords

💡Hue

Hue is a city in Vietnam that was the capital from 1802 to 1945 and the home of the last Vietnamese emperors, the Nguyen dynasty. It is central to the video's theme of exploring Vietnamese history and culture. The video discusses various historical sites in Hue, such as the royal tombs and the Imperial City.

💡Nguyen Dynasty

The Nguyen Dynasty was the last royal family to rule Vietnam, from 1802 to 1945. The video discusses the tombs of its emperors, highlighting the dynasty's influence on Vietnamese culture and history. The mention of Emperor Minh Mang and his contributions to Vietnam's territory and opposition to French involvement is a key example.

💡Ming Mang Tomb

The Minh Mang Tomb is one of the historical sites in Hue and is the resting place of Emperor Minh Mang, the second emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty. The tomb is noted for its Chinese-influenced architecture and its balance between landscapes and buildings, symbolizing harmony in life. The video provides details about its construction and significance.

💡Confucianism

Confucianism is a philosophical and ethical system based on the teachings of Confucius, focusing on morality, social harmony, and proper conduct. In the video, it is mentioned that Emperor Minh Mang was an expert in Confucianism, which influenced his rule and the design of his tomb.

💡Khai Dinh Tomb

The Khai Dinh Tomb is another significant historical site in Hue, known for its unique architectural fusion of Chinese, Vietnamese, and European Gothic elements. It was built for Emperor Khai Dinh, who was known as a French puppet and raised national taxes to fund the construction of his tomb. His son, Bao Dai, completed the tomb after his father's death.

💡Tu Duc Tomb

The Tu Duc Tomb is one of the most beautiful mausoleums on the outskirts of Hue city and was built during the reign of Emperor Tu Duc, the fourth emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty. It served not only as a tomb but also as a recreational ground for the emperor during his lifetime. The tomb is characterized by its serene natural surroundings and the sounds of the flowing stream, pine hills, and singing birds.

💡Thien Mu Pagoda

Thien Mu Pagoda is one of the most beautiful pagodas in Vietnam, located near the Perfume River in Hue. It is significant for its role in Vietnamese history, particularly for housing the car of monk Thich Quang Duc, who protested against religious freedom violations by self-immolation. The pagoda is a sacred place and a popular tourist destination.

💡Imperial City

The Imperial City in Hue is a UNESCO World Heritage site recognized for its historical and cultural significance. It was the center of the Nguyen Dynasty's power and its architecture was modeled after the Forbidden City in Beijing. The city suffered damage during the American Vietnam War but has since been restored, making it an impressive tourist attraction.

💡Vietnamese Food Culture

Vietnamese food culture is an integral part of the country's heritage, encompassing a variety of dishes and culinary practices that reflect the nation's history, geography, and ethnic diversity. The video hints at exploring this aspect of Vietnamese culture, suggesting that the channel will cover it in subsequent content.

💡Travel

Travel in the context of the video refers to the exploration of historical sites and cultural experiences in Hue, Vietnam. It encompasses visiting tombs, pagodas, and the Imperial City, as well as engaging with the local food culture. The video encourages viewers to subscribe for more content related to travel in Vietnam.

Highlights

Hue was the capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945 and was home to the last Vietnamese emperors, the Nguyen dynasty.

The first historical place to visit is the Minh Mang tomb, built in 1840 and completed in 1843 by 10,000 workers.

Emperor Minh Mang spent 14 years choosing the location for his tomb, which reflects harmony in its architecture.

Ming Mang had 142 children and 43 wives, contributing to the prevalence of the Nguyen last name in Vietnam.

The Khai Dinh tomb is an architectural fusion of Chinese, Vietnamese, and European Gothic elements.

Emperor Khai Dinh is known for raising national taxes to 30% to fund his tomb's construction.

The tomb of Khai Dinh features the famous 'Nine Dragons Hiding in Clouds' painting by artist Phan Van Tanh.

Tu Duc tomb is one of the most beautiful mausoleums and served as a recreation ground for the emperor during his lifetime.

The Thien Mu pagoda is located near the Perfume Lake and was built following a legend about a heavenly lady's message.

Monk Thich Quang Duc's car is housed in Thien Mu pagoda, who protested against religious freedom violations by self-immolation.

The Imperial City in Hue is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, modeled after the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Only 10 major structures of the Hue Imperial City survived the 1968 Tet offensive during the American Vietnam War.

The best time to visit Thien Mu pagoda is early in the morning or in the afternoon when the sun sets.

The entrance to Minh Mang tomb costs 100,000 Vietnam dong for an adult and is closed at 5 pm.

Visiting all the royal tombs in the morning is recommended to avoid excessive heat.

The Imperial City opens at 8 am and closes at 5 pm, with an entrance fee of 150,000 Vietnam dong per adult.

During flood times from October to November, boat trips on the Perfume River are not advised for safety reasons.

Transcripts

did you know hue was the capital of vietnam from  1802 to 1945 and did you know hue was the home of  

the last vietnamese emperors the Nguyen dynasty today  i'm gonna show you five places you should visit  

to learn more about the history of vietnam if  you are interested in vietnamese food culture  

and travel don't forget to subscribe to my channel  and follow my social media to see daily vietnam  

now let's explore the first  historical place Ming Mang tomb

this is Minh Mang tomb and it was built in 1840 and  it was completed in 1843 with the hard work of 10  

000 workers could you believe the king spent 14  years choosing the location for his resting place  

ming mang is the second emperor of the muen  dynasty and he had 142 children and 43 wives  

that explains why vietnamese has so many  Nguyen last names right emperor ming mang  

was an expert in confucianism which focuses on  morality and harmony the king was known for his  

opposition to french involvement in vietnam and  his contribution to expanding vietnam territory

the architecture of the tomb was  influenced by chinese concepts  

in which the balance between landscapes and  buildings represents the harmony of life  

when the king passed away the main gate was open  only once to bring the emperor's coffin to the  

tomb and has been tightly closed ever since the  ticket for minh mang tomb is 100 000 vietnam dong  

for an adult and is closed at 5 pm so i suggest  you go in the morning to have a full experience

number two Khai Dinh tomb unlike minh mang, khai dinh   was known as a french puppet and he even raised 

national taxes to 30 percent to build his  tomb unfortunately the emperor passed away  

before the building was finished so his son  Bao Dai completed the tomb a few years later  

what sets Khai Dinh tomb apart  from the others around hue  

it is architectural fusion of chinese  vietnamese and european gothic elements  

there are fierce dragons guarding the  steps stone elephants and warriors outside

the inside of the tomb was decorated with colorful  patterns of ceramic and glass walls the famous  

Nine dragons hiding in clouds painted by feet by  talented artist Phan Van Tanh this is the only tomb  

which we know exactly where the king was buried  hiding tomb is one of the most creative and unique  

tombs of the Nguyen dynasty he may not be a good  politician but he seems to be a very good designer  

number three tu duc tomb the tomb was one of  the most beautiful mausoleums on the outskirts  

of hue emperor city Tu Duc was the fourth emperor  of the Nguyen dynasty and he was on the throne over  

35 years the longest one compared to other rulers  having no sanctuary he ordered the construction of  

his tomb to create a fairy land not only was it a  world for his everlasting life after death but it  

was also his lifetime recreation ground where he  could meditate write poetry and hunt animals the  

tomb was built between 1864 and 1867 and is about  six kilometers southwest from hue city center  

unlike the architecture of other tombs in hue  tomb of consists of two main parts arranged on  

two parallel vertical axes here there are  always the sounds of the flowing stream  

wrestling pine hills and singing birds the  ticket is 100 000 Vietnam dome per adult  

and i suggest visiting all the royal tombs  in the morning to avoid excessive heat and  

in the afternoon you can visit chua thien mu which is the next destination on the list  

so i'm at Thien Mu pagoda right now is one  of the most beautiful pagodas in vietnam  

and what i love the most about this place  is that it's located near the perfume lake  

look at that beautiful view behind me according to  legend an old woman once appeared on the hill and  

said that the lord would build a buddhist pagoda  for the country's prosperity lord nguyen hoang  

heard the message and he ordered the construction  of the pagoda and named it heavenly lady which  

means Thien Mu in vietnamese this sacred place  houses the car that monk Thich Quang Duc used before  

burning himself to death in the protest against  the region's violations of religious freedom  

the pagoda was heavily damaged in 1943 but was  then fully renovated for over 30 years thereafter  

the best time to visit Thien Mu pagoda is early  morning or in the afternoon when the sun goes down  

is free entrance and you can take a boat trip  upstream perfume river however during flood time  

from the end of october to mid-november yearly  you shouldn't travel by boat for your own safety

last but not least the iconic symbol of hue  

is the imperial city which was recognized  as a unesco world heritage site in 1993.

i literally feel like a princess walking in  my own palace right now it is so beautiful

a major military campaign during the american  vietnam war in 1968 called the Tet offensive  

caused serious damage to the hue imperial city  of the 160 buildings only 10 major structures  

remained after the battle the architectural style  is basically modeled after the forbidden city  

in beijing the whole complex was massive with  sophisticated architecture that impresses every  

tourist so i definitely suggest you guys to come  here after four because because the weather is  

so much cooler the ticket is 150 000 vietnam dome  per adult and the opening hour is from 8am to 5pm  

sometimes they allow tourists to explore  the imperial city at night you can feel  

the calmness of the purple forbidden city by  catching a cyclo at night it looks beautiful  

yet mysterious in the next video i will  take you to eat delicious local food in  

hue don't forget to subscribe to my channel to be  notified for the next one i'll see you soon bye