Hue - Imperial City - Vietnam

The Imperial City in Hue , Vietnam is an impressive structure.
Hue is yet another former capital of Vietnam.
The history is interesting as it's establishment is connected to France under Louis XVI, the French Revolution and Napoleon Bonaparte.

 You enter through the Meridian Gate, which is off Le Duan street.

Travelling through Vietnam, one can't escape the huge influence France has had over this nation. From, the food to it's architecture, French culture is everywhere.

Hue is located near the border between North and South Vietnam of the 20^th century. The capital was chosen by Gia Long. He was the first ruler from the Nguyen dynasty. The Nguyen name is everywhere btw. Most of my Vietnamese friends living in Australia, have this surname.

The Nguyen dynasty was the last Vietnamese imperial dynasty.  It started in 1802 with Gia Long and came to an end in 1945. The last Vietnamese emperor was Bao Dai. The Nguyen Dynasty lasted 143 years.

Under Gia Long, the Vietnamese Empire expanded. At his death in 1820, it covered the areas of the current states of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. It seems that Gai Long relied quite a bit on the French to achieve his empire.  Even before the French Revolution, he collaborated with Louis the XVI.

This Empire was gradually absorbed by France over the course of several decades.... eventually becoming French Indochina in 1887. (Laos came under French control in 1893 and became part of Indochina in 1899).

These pics are of the old Imperial City of Hue. Its an enormous complex. The square fortress is known as the Hue Citadel. The walls are 2 kilometres long. There is wide moat on the outside.

The site of the citadel was chosen by experts in "geomancy". It's a science that looks at the landscape
and determines how buildings can be placed to enhance good luck, protection, spirit, etc.
They chose the site as it lay by the Perfume River and was surrounded by mountains. They apparently looked like snakes and lions.

There are lots of temples, palaces, offices, gardens... all the things you would find in a capital city..
At it's centre lies the  Purple Forbidden City. ... this was once shut off to the general public.

Links
+ The Nguyen Dynasty


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more travel postcards click here