Walking to the Citadel, built in 1803 by Emperor Gia Long, founder of the Nguyen Dynasty. Hue was the capital of Vietnam throughout the 19th century to the early 20th century.

The Flag Tower. The National Liberation flag was first placed here when it was seized by the North Vietnamese forces during the Tet Offensive (Vietnam War).

Close-up

Two of the Nine Deities' Canons. They were cast by Emperor Gia Long in 1803 as symbolic protection of his capital. Each canon represents one of the four seasons and the five elements.

Part of the Citadel

Close-up

The Ngo Mon Gate, entrance to the Imperial City. The top level of the gate is a watchtower where the emperor sat during state occasions. It is also where the last Emperor of Vietnam, Bao Dai, abdicated in 1945 in favor of the revolutionary government headed by Ho Chi Minh.

Another picture of Ho Chi Minh

Part of the watchtower

More of the watchtower

Looking backward from the watchtower

Motorscooter parking lot

On the other side of the Ngo Mon Gate

Walking through another gate

Close-up

Looking back at the Ngo Mon Gate

People at the Citadel

And another gate to walk through

The Throne Palace, the Palace of Supreme Harmony

A very big dragon in the courtyard

One of the Halls of the Mandarins

Ancient bronze cauldron in the courtyard of the Halls of the Mandarins

People throw coins and paper money in the cauldron. It was odd to see coins here as we never got change in coins, only in bills.

Many of the young girls in Vietnam are fashionably dressed.

Pretty outfit

Pretty outfits

Pretty outfit

Very cute

Pretty outfit

Dressed up as an emperor

Another photo of the emperior

Now he is in one of the Halls of the Mandarins crowning his empress

In one of the Halls of the Mandarins

A musem of imperial items was in the second Hall of the Mandarins

Collection of Wine Sets

Ceramic vases

Phot of an emperor and his court

Emperor Khai Dinh

A souvenir shop was here as well.

I think these robes were in case you wanted your photo taken in one of them, though no photographer was present.

Public restrooms with Asian-designed roofs

Walking from the Halls of the Mandarins

Notice: Prices for Elephant Service, but we didn't see any elephants here.

There were beautiful gates at the Citadel.

Another gate

Another gate

Another gate

Another gate

Closer-up

Close-up of the gate's decorations

Close-up of the gate's decorations

Close-up of the gate's decorations

Close-up of the gate's decorations

The Mieu, which honors 10 Nguyen emperors

In the Mieu's courtyard

In the Mieu's courtyard

Close-up of the outside of the Mieu

Inside the Mieu: a gilt and lacquer altar to a Nguyen emperor

There are 10 altars to the Nguyen emperors here.

Hien Lam Pavilion, built by Emperor Minh Mang in 1824. Also called The Pavilion of Glorious Coming.

Closer-up

One of nine dynastic funerary urns cast between 1835 and 1837.

The bas-reliefs on the urns are of powerful symbols.

More of the bas-reliefs

Close-up one of the dragons on the steps.

Another gate

Artwork on the gate

Courtyard with either a drum or a bell tower in the back right of the photo

The bell tower

Close-up of the bell

The drum tower

Close-up of the drum

It would have been a long walk back to the bus, but there were cyclos here, so I took a cyclo back. Everyone else walked. Photo: on the cyclo

Going through the tunnel in the gate

Facing the motorcycles coming into the citadel. My cyclo driver dropped me off at the steps of our bus--very good service and only $2 U.S.