Welcome to the Hue Virtual Tour Part 04

The Heavenly Lady Pagoda has two sections. One is the tower you saw on the previous page, with its bell cast in 1710. Behind the tower there is the place where the local monks practice Buddhism. This pagoda played a central role in Buddhism in Vietnam. One of its monks hit the world headlines when he burned himself to death in Saigon in a protest against the corrupt South Vietnam regime in 1963. The car he used to get to Saigon is on display in one of the rooms of the pagoda.

Welcome to the Hue Virtual Tour Part 03

Hue was originally the capital of southern Vietnam. The Nguyen Dynasty ruled the city. In 1805 Emperor Gia Long, a member of the Nguyen family, united the country. Hue became the capital of Vietnam. It was so until 1945, when the communist government established the capital in Hanoi.

By the way, renting a bike is an excellent way of visiting the city. Ask your hotel. In the picture you can see a young Vietnamese girl on the way to school. Female students wear this white uniform on certain days of the week. I think it is on Mondays and Fridays. Younger female students wear the uniform every school day. Bicycles are still the most frequent way of transportation in Hue. Motorbikes are catching up quickly.

Welcome to the Hue Virtual Tour Part 02

The Hien Lam Cac was built to honor the people who contributed to the founding of the Nguyen Dynasty. In the two halls located on either side of Hien Lam Cac, the unknown heroes are worshipped.

The area of Cung That includes several palaces. It was in this area that the daily life of the king took place. Of the original palaces only two remain today, the Dien Tho (the residency of the king's Mother) and the Truong Sinh Palace (the residency of the king's paternal grand mother). The King's and the Queen's residencies (Can Thanh and Khon Thai Palaces) were destroyed during the American bombings.

Welcome to the Hue Virtual Tour Part 01

Welcome to the Hue, Central Vietnam, virtual presentation. The ancient city of Hue was the capital of Vietnam during the Nguyen Dynasty at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1833 the French troops took control of the city. Fortunately, the French protectorate preserved the treasures and the historic integrity of the town.

During the Vietnam-US war some of the the most intense fightings occurred in this region, the Central Highlands. Many constructions were bombed and destroyed during this war. Even so, Hue is still one of Vietnam's highlights. On the following pages, I will give you a sneak preview of the city's main tourist attractions. I will also show you some of the Royal Tombs in the Hue area.