HUE
Area: 5 009 km2
Population (2001): 1 078 900
Districts: Phong Dien, Quang Dien, Huong Tra, Phu Vang, Huong Thuy,
Phu Loc, Nam Dong, A Luoi and Hue City.
Hue is one of places, which has many cultural heritages. Up to now,
there is no places like Hue remaining a lot of originally historical
vestiges as in this ancient Capital City.
On the Northern bank of Perfume River has relics consisting of
palaces, which were constructed as arc defensive ramparts with 11km
length. This valuable construction includes more than 100 arichectural
works which were extremely reflected the life of Emperors and
mandarins under Nguyen� reign. Situated in the middle of hills on the
Southern bank of Perfume River are very beautiful tombs of Nguyen
Kings. Among these tombs are the four famous ones with the name and
the arrangements of the tomb reflected each Emperor�s points of view,
personality, and tastes. This is majestic Gia Long tomb, imposing Minh
Mang tomb, poetic Tu Duc tomb and magnificent Khai Dinh tomb.
Hue is also an important center of Buddhism.
In Hue and its surrounding still exist tens of pagodas constructed
more 300 years ago, and a hundred of temples and pagodas built in the
early century.
Besides, Hue is a place where the royal music is originated, and a
place with traditional famous dishes and sophisticated handicraft.
As a unique city of Vietnam still remains its form of City under
Middle Age and the constructions of monarchic, Hue has become a big
and an invaluable museum. Therefore, vestiges in Hue ancient capital
have been classified by the government as a very precious property and
on December 1993 Hue has been recognized as a World Cultural Heritage
Site by UNESCO.
Hien Lam
Pavilion
Hien Lam Pavilion (Pavilion of the Glorious Coming) is a graceful
monument situated in the center of the Dynastic Temple�s courtyard,
southeast of the Citadel.
Built in 1824 by Emperor Minh Mang, at the same time as the Dynastic
Temple, it consists of three stories. The lower story has three
compartments, the middle one, two, and the top floor, only one.
The pavilion stands on a 21m by 13m square-shaped foundation. The area
amounted to 300 sq. m including the roof overhang.
In front, on the stairs (9 steps each) joining the court, each flight
is divided by two slithering dragon designs into three passages, the
middle one being exclusively reserved for the Emperor.
The ground floor is paved with Bat Trang bricks. It has three
compartments and two bays surrounded with plastered brick walls. These
are ventilated by windows similar in shape and decorated with enameled
open-work bricks. The three compartments are left open and garnished
with ornamental wooden banisters. Systems of rafters and panels are
exquisitely engraved with floral designs.
Hien Lam Pavilion can be considered as a memorial to those who had
devoted their lives to the establishment of the Nguyen dynasty. The
Nguyen Emperors are honored in the Dynastic Temple while meritorious
mandarins are honored in the Left and Right Houses on either side of
the Hien Lam Pavilion. Because of the holiness of the Pavilion, the
Nguyen Emperors had decreed that no other construction built in the
Citadel should be higher.
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