Hue - The anciel capital of Vietnam ( 1)

3-day visiting Hue – Vietnam ancient capital

 

Transportation

 

There are many means to visit Hue, hereafter; I will introduce some of the popular moves to Hue for students as I know that we will always favor the cheapest way of travelling.

 

Airplane: Only 1 hour, there are many flights from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to Hue with many domestic brands, with fares from 300,000 to 700,000 VND per TP. CM - Hue, prices from 1-1.5 million dong Hanoi - Hue.

 

Train: Hue railway station is the place of the train across the country through. If you are near Hue, choose a train to experience the beautiful scenery along the way.

 

Passenger buss: Low cost but moving from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to Hue takes about 24 hours. You can choose The Sinh Tourist, Hung Thanh, Hoang Long ... if you go from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, you can go by Phuong Trang Bus, Thuan Thao bus...

 

In the ancient capital, as far as I know you could rent motorbikes to freely visit and feel Hue in your own way. Car rent from 80,000-150,000 VND / car / day. Visiting the Citadel, you should try cyclo only 15,000 VND / hour / person to relax the soul, again find the rustic, simple here.

 

Accommodation

 

Since I followed the booked tour, so the tour guide booked a reservation in advance, to receive cheaper rates, avoid the state of the room on the holidays, Tet. Depending on the conditions and interests, you can choose the appropriate accommodation.

 If you want to see the Perfume River at dawn, I advised you to choose Huong Giang Hotel as my family has been stayed there... If you want to feel the bustle of the city life, choose the 5 star hotel as Imperial, Indochine Palace Hotel ... or hotel, guesthouse. Popular on the road Vi Da, Nguyen Cung Cung room price only 200,000-250,000. A new type of stay in Hue is cheap hostel is also an interesting option, for this option, you can use booking.com

 

Below I would like to share a three-day schedule of exploring the ancient capital

 

Arriving in Hue, if you do not have a fixed or scheduled sightseeing schedule, the suggestions below can be consulted.

 

Day one: Tu Hieu Pagoda - Nam Giao Pagoda - Thien Mu Pagoda

 

My morning started with vegetarian rice in a Restaurant in Le Quy Don Street, I found this is an interesting choice to start a day visiting Hue.

 

On New Year's Day, I went to Tu Hieu pagoda (Thuy Xuan ward, Hue city), turned to the deserted desert hill to light incense for over 25 Nguyen dynasty eunuchs to remember the merit and the quiet contribution to the King Nguyen.

About 1 km away is Nam Giao, where convergence of heaven and earth. I visited, prayed for myself and my family to be peaceful, happy living, and can learn about the origin and meaning of this herd to the spiritual life of the Nguyen and Hue people. .

Nam Giao - where convergence of heaven and earth

 

I will tell you a little knowledge of Nam Giao where every year the King carried out the heavenly sacrifice - the land of the nation for peace, harmony and harmony, prosperous society, and peaceful harvest. This is one of the very important rituals of the court, deeply reflecting the spiritual life of the king and the resident community as well as the Thien - Nhan people 's relationship with our nation.

In addition, I also know that Vietnam has not only Nam Giao of the Hue Citadel, but also the Nam Giao Dynasty of Thang Long (Hanoi), Tay Do (Thanh Hoa), (Binh Dinh) ...

 

I have been in Xa Dan Street, Hanoi for 2 years, the name of this road is connected with the old Nam Giao which was once located here when Hanoi was the capital of feudal Vietnam.

 

However, in 1820 Gia Long ascended the throne and the Nguyen Dynasty capitalized in Phu Xuan (Hue). Therefore, every year Nam Giao men in Thang Long no longer organize the God - Earth anymore. In 1804, the Thang Long Citadel was rebuilt, people unloaded bricks and tiles in Nam Giao to build. Only the remains of the beer house and the stele "Nam Giao Giao bi bi" are left.

 

The Nam Giao in Thang Long ( Hanoi) was changed over time, many traffic works, construction has overlapped and built up overlap, but the historical data and excavation results of the Nam Giao monuments in the area. Point 114 Mai Hac De, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi shows that Nam Giao of Thang Long Citadel is the oldest of the dynasties, experiencing the dynasties of Lý, Trần, Lê and part of the Tây Son) period.

 

After visiting Nam Giao, It was already at lunch time.

 

Then, I went to eat rice dishes in Con Hen restaurant on Pham Hong Thai street, Truong Dinh district. Only tens of thousands VNĐ, I can be full stomach with mussel bowl.

 

At about 1h30, we went along the Kim Long road to Thien Mu Pagoda on the romantic Huong Giang. The most famous monument of the ancient capital was built 400 years old associated with the history of opening the lord of Nguyen Hoang.

 

Come here, I was attracted by magnificent construction and equally poetic. Take a look at the Phuoc Duyen tower, see the peninsula of the Vietnamese opera singer Dao Tan, or watch the car of the late monk Thich Quang Duc leave before self-immolation to protest Ngo Dinh Diem .

 

After the Vietnam War, Pagoda was restored with great size. From that time, Thien Mu Pagoda not only became the most beautiful temple in the capital, but also a place associated with many historical events is reminded to the present time in any Hue tour. Located in front of Thien Mu Pagoda, Phuoc Duyen Tower was built as an inseparable symbol of the Pagoda.

Phuoc Duyen tower is 21m high, has 7 floors and each tower has a statue of Buddha. Attached to the Thien Mu Pagoda and the Phuoc Duyen Tower, there are quite a lot of other works on the top of Huong Nguyen, Dai Hung, Quang Dai, Quan Am ... over time and the restoration affected or a little more. . Stepping into the Thien Mu Pagoda, travelers like to meditate calmly, just a little static and separate from the world outside bustling.

 

After that, my whole family listened to Hue classical music on the ship floating on Perfume River, which is an experience not to be missed. Ca Hue was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. This is the pride of the people of Hue when there is a separate dance, famous throughout the country. Spend about 100,000 VND, you will enjoy the deep, vibrant dances of the Hue girls have the oldest history, under the dynasty Ly, Tran, Le and part of the Tay Son.

 

Second day: Hue Palace - Hon Chen Temple - Dong Ba Market

 

On the second day, I was allowed to visit the Imperial Citadel and the imperial mausoleums and monasteries of the Nguyen kings to visit and learn about the history and culture of royal family.

 

With 150,000 VND  ( 6 euros) per visit, I can visit the entire Citadel and Museum of Royal Antiques. One of the Nguyen emperor's emerald gems, there are monuments such as Ngo Mon Gate, where witness the great events of the dynasty, the Thai Hoa Palace, the workplace of the king, and Dien Tho Palace. The Mieu Temple - the place where the Nguyen Kings, the Nine Tops, Hien Lam ...

Just passing through the gates of my impression city is the canon - 9 giant bronze canons of the Nguyen emperors.

 

They are 9 huge bronze cannons which 5 canons on the right side and other 4 canons on the left. These are nine cannon guns that Hue people often call a luxury name as the Nine Divine Canons. On the canon there is a title written by Minh Mang King for the guns: "The military leadership is as strong as the gods champion generals... To the spring of this canon gods have a history of exactly 205 years and there are many spiritual myths worth telling.

 

I came up with a sign saying of casting nine miraculous which is described as a miracle: After defeating the Tay Son (1801) the next year ascended the throne of King Gia Long to collect all the bronze items that were cast into 9 Giant cannons which are used to represent the strength and permanence of the Nguyen Dynasty.

 

Although I could not read Chinese characters, but they have a translation of the name of the Nine Gods named after four seasons and five elements.

The order of names : Four seasons _  Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter, Five Elements - Mental, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth

 

Then, the whole family went 200 meters ahead of the Imperial City Gate (Ngo Mon Gate) and the Flag Tower.

 

I find the Ngo Mon Gate's architecture similar in appearance to Tiananmen Square in Beijing but still reflect the Vietnamese national architecture style, although I must say that the Vietnamese architect intended to make a Tiananmen small version in Hue.

 

Anyway, I found Hue's Ngo Mon Gate looking graceful and supreme and is still considered to be a peak of Hue royal art. Ngo Mon Gate is also home to many important historical events. The most important rituals of the Nguyen dynasty, such as the Ban morph (new calendar), Truyen Lo

 

Particularly, Ngo Mon Gate is the seat of the abdication of Emperor Bao Dai, the last monarch of the Vietnamese monarchy on August 30, 1945.

 

 In terms of architecture, I could divide the Ngo Mon Gate near two main sections: Gate and Pentagon.

- The gata section is horizontal U-shaped perpendicular, long bottom. The tower is made of bricks in combination with brass beams. The tower carries 5 aisles. The central way is Ngo Mon Gate, only for the king. The two ways are Ta Giap Mon and Friendship, for the writer, martial arts in the same team. The two outer passages are located in two U-leaves, which are translucent and translucent, for soldiers and horseshoes. You could see the five-door, three-door, two-door "five-door architecture is very similar to that of the Ngo Mon Gate in Beijing.

 

- Pentagon placed above the station - gate. In addition to the body, I witnessed that the floor is also exalted by a high platform also runs throughout the U-shaped body. The main floor has two floors; the frame structure is entirely ironwood.

 

Moreover, I was impressed by the designation of the lower deck which is connected, running around to cover the back part. The upper floor is divided into 9 sets, with many birds decorated on the edge of the roof, the resolution, making the floor look very gentle, elegant. The central roof of Ngu Phung floor ( Five Phoenix Floors) with yellow tile roof tiles, the remaining eight tiles are blue tile roofs

 

The guide suddenly sang a verse in Hue that people used to refer to the Ngo Mon Gate.

 

"Five Dragon Gates,Five Phoenix floors

 

One gold floor, eight blue floors, three straight doors, two gates around which are used for elephants”

 

Next, we went through the right gate of Ngo Mon Gate to enter the Imperial Courtyard which is mainly used for special occasions.

 

Thai Hoa Palace is the most important building in the area of the Royal Citadel of Hue - where the Nguyen kings ruled over the throne ruled the country for over 100 years.

 

I will explain to you the name "Thai Hoa palace" of the work of deep philosophical sense. The word "Thai" is great, broad, the word "harmony" implies "harmony, harmony" -the harmony of yin and yang, between eternity and kindness, between man and man, between man and God. People and Earth are useful for all things. When life reaches great harmony in all relationships, there will be conditions to thrive. On a bronze baron in front of the Thai Hoa Palace, at the head of the Trung Dao Bridge there is a sign saying: "Harmonize sex".

 

Therefore, I can understand the meaning of this sentence also comes from the idea: Trung is the great root of the galaxy, Hoa is the leader of the galaxy, when reached the ultimate harmony, all things multiply. Thus, the meaning of this sentence is closely related to the two words "Thai Hoa" of the main architecture. It is possible to see the name of Thai Hoa Palace as a criterion, a wish of Nguyen emperors for a prosperous peace, the country and the dynasty are prosperous.

 

I looked up at the roof, a kind of "snail nectar" (two sets of roofs on one surface), decorated with luminescence, on royal roof tiles with hundreds of Han poems on the tiles in the third part. , the interior of the electric and on the roof of the roof of the roof matched the charm of this monumental building. Inside the Thai Hoa Palace, above the throne is a decorative canopy of 9 bright yellow dragons.

 

In front of the Thai Hoa Palace is the Court of the Imperial Court, I can imagine the old days where the mandarins attended the ceremony. The top floor is reserved for martial artists from one to three. The lower floor is reserved for martial arts officials from the quarters down. The bottom position, near the Middle Bridge is a place for the elderly to stand in the occasion of the ceremony.

 

In addition to the two monthly Great Dignitaries, I have been told that Thai Hoa Palace was also where the royal court holds important activities such as the coronation ceremony, the longevity ceremony, etc. At the ceremony, the king will rest on the throne. Only a handful of princes are allowed to stand on the sides, and all the mandarins will have to stand on the courtyard of the imperial court in the order shown on the paintings.

 

At first, I looked at the palace which seems to be new, and then the tour guide told us that Thai Hoa palace has been renovated in recent years. Moreover, she said that due to the harsh weather condition of Vietnam, especially during the summer with many typhoons and tropical storms, over time, Thai Hoa palace has been repaired many times, including a large restoration in 1833 when Minh Mang re-planning works in the Royal Citadel, old location a short distance north of current location; and the restoration in 1923 under the reign of King Khai Dinh to prepare for the king's four-day Royal Feast (40-year-old king celebrations) took place in 1924. The glass door system and gold lacquer made at this stage.

With a solemn position on the Imperial axis of courage and many symbolic meanings in architectural decoration, Thai Hoa Palace stands majestically in magnificent landscapes, indeed.

 

Then, as the rule of the imperial city, we are not allowed to take pictures in this area while the tour guide certainly told us about the Sex Life of Nguyen Emperor.

 

Our Nguyen Emperors are not just strong in Sexual life but he was also proud of his strength in bedroom as he has introduced a kind of magical medicine to royal court which has been written in the history.

 

 

Minh Mang "one night six women" with Minh Mang medical drug!!

 

Among the emperors of the Nguyen, the most famous of the sex lives was King Minh Mang, the second emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty. Not only a wise king, is he also known for his health over the knees.

 

Legend has it that the king performed pillow at night regularly. Every night, the king ordered the eunuch to call 6 women in the court, so they will have sex in the afternoon. Sometimes, in one night, the king made three pregnant women. Although the Emperor has a "labor-hardworking” night, every day he is still awaking up early and riding his favorite horse without tired expression. According to ancient books of Nguyen Dynasty , for the king's health and the country's "afternoon" the courtesan royal court day and night research and preparation of medicine with a useful kidney tonic effect is great to Empero Minh Mang,

 

That kind of sex-promoted medicine is called "Minh Mang drug".

 

 

Perhaps you will hear through it will be hard to believe, how can one night to have sex with up to six grandmothers, I will give the emotional figures for you to verify.

 

According to the history of the Nguyen Dynasty, it was recorded that "with his superhuman powers, King Minh Mang became the king with the largest number of children in Nguyen dynasty, with 142 sons, including 78 princes and 64 princesses. "

 

Unbelievably!!! Normally in Europe, I known that the Queen of Austria has just 14 children and She is very proud of herself in the ability to give birth.

 

How can you imagine a family with hundreds of children?

 

So, next question I have asked is about how can the Emperor name his children as he had too many children?

This is the answer!!!!

Firstly, I must acknowledge Emperor Minh Mang as a wise king, who also knew from many previous kings that due to the family's conflicts have risen up; they generated a dispute within the royal family that which one will become the Emperor.

That led to the collapse of the throne, the imperial court dissipated.

 

Therefore, he was worried about Nguyen's royal estate. Therefore, Minh Mang has devised many ways to maintain his karma and descendants after long. In it there is a way to bring cultural nuance, social psychology. That's how it's named. That is, next to the main name, a prefix must be appended to the mandatory attribute to know where his or her class is in the ranks of the royal family. But he showed how it was so sensitive to the princes that they were easy to accept that it was not easy. I have to tell you that, in Asia, they have not traditionally spoken out indirectly to speak out. Here, if it is straightforward about the right to inherit the throne, it will be very clear if it is in Europe. However, in Vietnam, even the emperor also has to find ingenious way to say his opinion indirectly.

 

In fact, Minh Mang knows that all his brothers love poetry so he thought about creating poems of great social and humanitarian significance. The king composed eleven "five-poems" for easy reading, easy to remember.

There is one called "Brothers  System" and one called "Imperial System".

 

The "Imperial System" was used to name the  grandchildren of the Emperor, these grandchild will have imperial right to inherit the Dragon Throne, back in the order with the words in the poem. That is:

 

Miên Hường Ưng Bửu Vĩnh.
Bảo Quý Định Long Trường.
Hiền Năng Kham Kế Thuật.
Thế Thoại Quốc Gia Xương

This poem is in the Nguyen Phuoc genealogy I will translate it into poetic meaning  so your guy could be able to understand Ming Mang’s deep message!!!

 

Great work done by the ancestors

Hold on forever

Prosperous long-lasting

You show preserve it together

Everlasting life

The country is flourishing and richer!!!

The only throne left in Vietnam

In the hundreds of years of the Nguyen Dynasty, the throne was crowned on the centre of the Thai Hoa Palace, in which sometimes the king only stayed for three days. Over 143 years, the throne symbolized the power of the dynasty. The top of the throne is a splendid golden lacquer made of gold inlaid with decorative images of dragon meaning blessing, longevity, and good luck.

 

The throne is still preserved in the Thai Hoa Palace, in the Imperial City of Hue Citadel and is recognized as a national treasure. I think the throne value is not very high because its age is quite short nearly 200 years that I think it is because this is unique treasures. My point is that there is only one golden dragon in Vietnam, so even though it has a relatively young age compared to other thrones, that is one of the reasons the throne is recognized for its treasures.

 

"The value here is its uniqueness"

 

The throne is quite simple but carved fine.:D

The throne witnessed many struggles for power

 

I have to say a very sad truth, it was early in the Nguyen princes vying power to sit on this throne and become emperor. However, you know, in 1858, the French colonialists invaded and colonized Vietnam. "There was a bloody period in the war for the throne, like four months in place of three kings, but no one moved the throne away," but since then the new royal court has blasted that the throne is the point. By then the princes would not scramble for the throne anymore. Even when King Thanh Thai ascended the throne, he has cried so much.

 

There is another story that tour guide has told us about the Story of Four Months, Three Emperors.

 

The story of Four Months, Three Emperors is the darkest period in the history of the Nguyen Dynasty, which occurred after King Tu Duc died. At first, as you know, when the father king dies, his son will take over the throne.

However, my teacher of Biology said that Tu Duc had Chickenpox when he was young. So he cannot have children to inherit his dragon throne, the king adopted three grandchildren.

 

Prince Duc Duc was chosen to command the throne, but during the coronation on the throne he has asked the monk to remove the lines of his father's poor evaluation in his Diary. Then the king was the two major mandarins are Nguyen Van Tuong and Ton That Thuyet proposed to defer. Duc Duc was king only three days and then he was starved to death in the dungeon by two major mandarins.

 

After Prince Duc Duc, Prince Hiep Hoa was the 29th son of King Thieu Tri, who was appointed and backed  by Ton That Thuyet and Nguyen Van Tuong. Legend has it that, during the coronation ceremony, a black crow flies to the top of the tree in front of Thai Hoa Palace, crying for 4 hours. As a foreboding throne, the king retained his throne for four months and was executed in the royal court for approving the statement banning the two theoretical and wall authorities. The same theory has been chosen later to decide to choose another adopted son of King Tu Duc, Prince Ungang, who inherited the throne. Having witnessed two consecutive deaths, the prince feared that the two gods came to the throne at the age of fifteen, taking the name of Kien Phuc. Although he is king, Kien Phuc is anxious to sit on the throne. The tension caused the king to frequently get sick and die after eight months of coronation. Although many people (including me) believed that he was poisoned and died

 .. to be continued

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