Complex of Hue Monuments
Hue City - the provincial capital of Thua Thien Hue located in the North - Central Vietnam, constitutes the cultural, political and economic centre of the province. Hue is 660km south of Hanoi, 100km north of Da Nang, and 1,060km from Ho Chi Minh City.
Hue was the old imperial city of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945. It possesses invaluable architectural treasures, such as the tombs and temples of the Nguyen Kings and the imperial city, with original and ancient pagodas. The Complex of Hue Monuments has been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
History
From 179 BC to the end of the 2nd century AD, Hue was in the territory of Nhat Nam District, under the domination of the Northern feudal regime. Then, for about 12 centuries, it was the northernmost territory of the Kingdom of Champa.
From 1306, after the wedding of the Princess Huyen Tran of the Tran Dynasty with Che Man, the Cham King
Brief of Thua Thien Hue Province Topography
Thua Thien Hue Province covering an area of 5,009km2 on a narrow land strip of 127km long and 60km wide, presents almost all types of topography. From west to east, we ; find mountains, hills, coastal plains, marshes lagoons, and the sea. The coastline of the province is 120km long, with attractive and beautiful beaches and sand dunes.
Please spend some more time for Tours in Hue Vietnam or tour in Hanoi Vietnam here
Climate
There are two main seasons, the rainy season lasts from September to November; the rest of the time is the dry season. Climatic conditions change distinctively according to the four seasons. During the hottest period, from June to August, the average temperature is 29°C; and during the coldest period, from December to January, the average temperature is 20°C, but it can go down to 14°C or 10°C.
Every year, the number of typhoons coming to Thua Thien Hue Province is considerable, normally starting from June, with a peak in September and October. In addition, the climate is also greatly influenced by the northeastern monsoon, and in a lesser proportion, by the inland hot wind.
Territories of Chau 0 and Chau Ly (comprised of QuangTri, Thua Thien Hue and part of Northern Quang Nam) took the name of Thuan Hoa. In the 2nd half of the 15th century, under the reign of King Le Thanh Tong, the name of "Hue" appeared for the first time.
In 1636, the residence of the Nguyen Lords was settled at Kim Long (Hue). In 1687, it was transferred to Phu Xuan - where is the Hue Citadel today. Early in the 18th century, Phu Xuan became the political, economic and cultural centre of Dang Trong (the southern part of Vietnam). Then, from 1788 to 1801, it became the capital of the Tay Son Dynasty.
From 1802 to 1945, Hue was the capital of unified Vietnam under the reigns of the Nguyen Kings. During these years, architectural works of a high cultural and historic value were built: the Capital City and the Imperial Citadel (100 constructions), palaces, bastions, the Nguyen Kings’ imperial tombs, temple, pagoda, etc.
Thua Thien Hue is also a province with heroic revolutionary tradition. Today, numerous reminders of the two wars for independence can still be found.
First World Cultural Heritage Site in Vietnam
At the meeting of the 17th session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) in Columbia, from the 6,h to the 11th of December 1993, UNESCO has come to the decision of recognizing the Complex of Hue Monuments as a World Cultural Heritage. On 2 August 1994, the delivery of the recognizing text has been organized at the Imperial Palace of Hue (Dai Noi), with the participation of many international, national and local personalities, as well as representatives of the population of Hue.
Great enthusiasm has been generated in the country through the broadcast of this news. This was a noteworthy event in the cultural history. For the reason that Hue is the first site in Vietnam ever listed in the World Heritage List.
As to the cultural value, a world cultural heritage site, like the complex of Hue Monuments, has to:
- Be representative of an original artistic achievement, a masterpiece created by Man's hands;
- Have a great value for its building technique or its architecture in a general development plan for a city or in a program for the embellishment of the sight of a world cultural zone;
- Be representative of an architectural ensemble of an important historical period; Be closely related to important events, to ideas or beliefs having a great influence or to famous historical personalities.
Besides, for a cultural property to be internationally recognized, it has to be fully confirmed on a juridical level, and it must possess a managing organization ensuring its good conservation.
The architectural ensemble of Hue meets these requirements; it is embedded with highly humanistic values, and may be compared with the other cultural properties, rare and precious, in this world.
In the closing report of the above-mentioned meeting, the WHC has briefly assessed the value of Hue as follows.
"The architecture of Hue, which has been the Capital of a unified Vietnam, built at about the beginning of the 19th century, combines the oriental philosophy with the traditions of Vietnam. Intimately mingled with the natural environment, the beauty and special richness of the architecture and decorative art of the building are an original image of the Vietnamese monarchy at its most prosperous period".
The wonders of Hue can hardly be de-scribed to do them justice, and the best way to discover them is still to come in person and admire the beautiful constructions.