Top 5 most beautiful palaces in Hue: Journey to the land of Cultural Heritage

Hue - The land that preserves the most ancient palaces in Vietnam, where the royal architectural imprints are still completely preserved over time. The palaces in Hue not only attract tourists by their majestic and magnificent beauty but also contain profound historical values. Below are the top 5 outstanding palaces that you must visit when exploring the heritage of the ancient capital. Once an important political, cultural and religious center under the Nguyen Dynasty, the palace system in Hue is closely associated with the activities of the court and the royal life. Each construction is a symbol of Vietnamese royal architectural art and a living witness to the ups and downs of the country's history.

Việt Nam•25/06/2025

1. Thai Hoa Palace

Thai Hoa Palace - the palace of its golden age (Photo source: Collected)

Kien Trung Palace is one of the unique and outstanding works in the palace system in Hue , marking the harmonious blend of Eastern and Western cultures. Built by King Khai Dinh from 1921 to 1923, the palace skillfully combines modern French-Italian architecture and traditional Vietnamese decoration, clearly shown through the sophisticated porcelain mosaics and multi-colored reliefs.

The two-storey structure has a prominent facade with 13 porches and three winding dragon staircases, creating a majestic and unique beauty in the heart of the Imperial City. This was once the place where King Khai Dinh lived and worked, and was also associated with the event of King Bao Dai abdicating and handing over the royal seal and sword in 1945 - an important historical milestone of the Nguyen Dynasty.

After being almost completely destroyed in 1947, Kien Trung Palace remained a ruin for more than seven decades. In 2019, the building was meticulously restored to its original form, with a total cost of more than 123 billion VND and officially completed in 2024. Today, Kien Trung Palace has returned to its glorious appearance, contributing to enriching the list of attractive destinations when exploring the palace in Hue.

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2. Kien Trung Palace

The majestic and magnificent beauty of Kien Trung Palace (Hue Imperial Citadel) (Photo source: Collected)

Kien Trung Palace is one of the palaces in Hue that stands out with its subtle blend of Asian and European architecture. The project was started by King Khai Dinh from 1921 to 1923, skillfully combining modern French-Italian style with traditional Vietnamese decorative art, expressed through colorful porcelain mosaics and reliefs. With a two-storey design, a facade with 13 porches and three softly curving dragon staircases, Kien Trung Palace creates a majestic and unique beauty in the Hue Imperial Citadel heritage complex.

This place used to be the living and working space of King Khai Dinh, then became the place where King Bao Dai announced his abdication and handed over the royal seal and sword in 1945 - an important historical milestone. In 1947, the palace was almost completely destroyed and became a ruin for more than 70 years. It was not until 2019 that the restoration project was implemented and completed in 2024 with a total cost of more than 123 billion VND.

After a thorough restoration process, Kien Trung Palace has been brilliantly revived, becoming an attractive tourist destination, contributing to enriching the journey of discovering Hue relics, ancient royal architecture, and Nguyen Dynasty history for visitors from near and far.

3. An Dinh Palace

An Dinh Palace Hue - Palace of the last king in Vietnam (Photo source: Collected)

Located peacefully on the banks of the An Cuu River, An Dinh Palace is one of the typical works when mentioning the palace system in Hue. This work leaves a special mark because of the subtle blend between traditional Asian style and Western Neoclassical architecture. Initially, this place was called Phung Hoa Palace under the reign of King Dong Khanh. During the reign of King Khai Dinh (1917–1919), the palace was restored and expanded on an area of nearly 23,500 m², becoming the residence of the royal family, especially King Bao Dai and Queen Nam Phuong.

Through historical upheavals, although many ancillary structures have been lost, three important items have been preserved intact: the three-door gate with exquisite ceramic inlays, the unique Octagonal Pavilion, and the Khai Tuong Pavilion with impressive interior paintings. Today, An Dinh Palace is an attractive tourist destination in Hue, preserving the cultural, historical, and architectural values of the Asia-Europe fusion, contributing to the everlasting beauty of the historical relic in the heart of the ancient capital.

4. Longevity Palace

Truong Sanh Palace (Longevity Palace) Resting place of the Nguyen Dynasty Queens (Photo source: Collected)

Truong Sanh Palace, also known by its former name Truong Ninh Palace, is a palace in Hue located in the Northwest area of the Imperial City, near Dien Tho Palace. The construction began in 1821 under the reign of King Minh Mang and continued to be restored by King Thieu Tri, Dong Khanh and Khai Dinh over many periods. The palace has a characteristic "Vuong" architecture with three main areas: Ngu Dai Dong Duong, Tho Khang Dien and Van Phuc Lau. The space around the palace is harmoniously designed with a clear blue lake, a prominent red bridge, delicate artificial mountains and a brilliant flower garden, creating a regal yet intimate beauty.

In the past, this place was a resting place for the Queen Mothers and was honored by King Thieu Tri as one of the 20 outstanding landscapes of Hue Citadel. Today, Truong Sanh Palace is a place not to be missed when exploring the Hue Imperial Citadel relic complex, providing a complete experience of the ancient, peaceful space imbued with the ancient royal palace.

Dien Tho Palace is one of the palaces in Hue that stands out with its ancient, quiet beauty but still exudes elegance and majesty, true to the space reserved for the Queen Mother of the Nguyen Dynasty. The architectural layout here is arranged in harmony with works such as Tho Ninh Palace, Truong Du Tower and Tinh Minh Tower, all connected by a system of graceful tiled-roof corridors, creating a private yet airy complex.

Every small detail such as the yin-yang tiled roof, the intricately carved ironwood pillars, or the brilliant gold color in the interior all demonstrate meticulousness and class. It is the harmonious combination of aesthetic value and historical depth that has helped Dien Tho Palace maintain its position as one of the unique architectural heritages in Hue, attracting a large number of tourists who love culture, history and those who learn about ancient palaces.

5. Palace of Longevity

Dien Tho Palace is a palace in Hue that stands out with its ancient, quiet beauty but still exudes elegance and solemnity - true to the space reserved for the Queen Mother of the Nguyen Dynasty. The structures in the area such as Tho Ninh Palace, Truong Du Tower or Tinh Minh Tower are arranged harmoniously, connected through a system of graceful tiled-roof corridors, creating an overall space that is both private and airy, typical of ancient Hue royal architecture.

Every architectural detail here – from the yin-yang tiled roof, the intricately carved ironwood pillars to the brilliant gold color of the interior – shows sophistication and elegance, bearing the mark of Hue relics. It is the combination of aesthetic value and cultural depth that makes Dien Tho Palace a must-see attraction when exploring Hue Imperial City.

The top 5 palaces in Hue are not only attractive destinations for tourists who love to explore, but also open up a journey to learn about the history and culture of the ancient capital. Each palace in Hue bears the mark of time, reflecting the beauty of royal architecture and preserving valuable stories of the ancient dynasty. The experience of visiting these works will help you feel more deeply about the national heritage and connect with the golden history of the capital.

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Source of article: Collected and compiled
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