Vong Canh Hill

It is not so beautiful and well-known as Mount Ngu. However, as it is called, Vong Canh Hill is a place where tourists can enjoy the lovely panorama of Hue especially the Kings Nguyen’s tombs.

A Dutch-backed plan to build a hotel on Vong Canh hill in Thua Thien-Hue province has come up against strong public protests and the Government has ordered local authorities to reveal further details about the project.

The Life Resort project was licensed late last year under a joint-venture between the Huong Giang Tourist Company and Dutch company Vietnam Hotel Projekt, which has to date built two resorts under the same name in Hoi An and Quy Nhon.

The joint-venture planned to invest US$5 million to build a five-storey hotel in Vong Canh hill, 15 kilometres from Hue imperial city, an UNESCO-accredited World Heritage Site. The developers broke ground to begin constructing the hotel last month.

The Thua Thien-Hue People's Committee is eager to have another foreign-invested project in the province, where the level of foreign investment is low due to poor infrastructure. The project's developers said Vong Canh hill would be an ideal place for visitors to relax in tranquil surroundings after touring other local tourist attractions.

Tomb of Gia Long

To visit Gia Long's tomb, tourists can go by boat about 18 km along the Perfume river and then land directly at the wharf of the tomb, or they can go about 16 km by car to Kim Ngoc wharf, take the bac from there and walk for some more kilometers.

The tomb of Gia Long is in fact a group of tombs including those of the Emperor's relatives. The whole compound is spread on a joint mountain with 42 small and big mounts, amongst which Dai Thien Tho is the biggest.

The Emperor's Tomb is located on a flat, big hill. In the front, Thien Tho Mount form a natural screen, and in the back seven hills raise like natural defenses. On the left, 14 peaks form the "left blue dragons" (Ta Thanh Long), and on the right, another 14 form the "right white tigers" (Huu Bach Ho).

The tomb complex is composed of three areas:

- In the middle: There are the double-grave tomb of the Emperor and Queen Thua Thien Cao. Passing the Honor Court, visitors can see imposing stone statues. Seven steps of the worship-yard lead to Buu Thanh on the hill top. Inside Buu Thanh, the stone double-grave is built according to the concept of "Can Khon Hiep Duc" a symbol of happiness and loyalty.

- On the right: The main monument is Minh Thanh Temple, dedicated to the Emperor and his first Queen. Formerly, it used to contain many artefacts related to Gia Long's military life.

- On the left: The main monument is the stele pavilion. Nowadays, only the stele is left, minutely inscribed with Emperor Minh Mang's singing of the late Emperor's praises.
To move along the paths among the grass and wild flowers, under the fresh shady pines, tourists can visit other neighboring tombs in this section such as Quang Hung Tomb (the second wife of Lord Hien Vuong Nguyen Phuc Tan (1620- 1687), mother of Lord Nguyen Phuc Tran), Vinh Mau Tomb (the wife of Lord Nguyen Phuc Tran (1650-1691)); Thoai Thanh tomb (the second wife of Nguyen Phuc Luan and mother of Gia Long Emperor).The most noticeable one is the tomb of Thuan Thien Cao Queen, mother of Emperor Minh Mang. Next to it is Gia Thanh Temple, dedicated to her.

Gia Long's tomb is a wonderful picture of nature and architecture, which provides a superb view of the boundless mountains and the solitary pine forest

Thua Thien Hue

Hue is one of places, which has many cultural heritages. Up to now, there is no places like Hue remaining a lot of originally historical vestiges as in this ancient Capital City.

On the Northern bank of Perfume River has relics consisting of palaces, which were constructed as arc defensive ramparts with 11km length. This valuable construction includes more than 100 arichectural works which were extremely reflected the life of Emperors and mandarins under Nguyen’ reign. Situated in the middle of hills on the Southern bank of Perfume River are very beautiful tombs of Nguyen Kings. Among these tombs are the four famous ones with the name and the arrangements of the tomb reflected each Emperor’s points of view, personality, and tastes. This is majestic Gia Long tomb, imposing Minh Mang tomb, poetic Tu Duc tomb and magnificent Khai Dinh tomb.

Hue is also an important center of Buddhism. In Hue and its surrounding still exist tens of pagodas constructed more 300 years ago, and a hundred of temples and pagodas built in the early century.

Besides, Hue is a place where the royal music is originated, and a place with traditional famous dishes and sophisticated handicraft.

As a unique city of Vietnam still remains its form of City under Middle Age and the constructions of monarchic, Hue has become a big and an invaluable museum. Therefore, vestiges in Hue ancient capital have been classified by the government as a very precious property and on December 1993 Hue has been recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Climate: The weather is submitted to tropical monsoon climate divided into four distinct seasons: fresh spring, very hot summer, mild autumn and windy, cold winter. The dry season lasts from March to August. It is hot with temperate rarely reaches to 39.5ºC. The rainy season lasts from September to February. It is quite cold with average temperature is 19.7ºC, but sometime down to 8.8ºC. In this time, it rains a lost, sometime lasts all day. If tourist would to avoid rainy, they come to Danang City, 108km from south of Hue. In the mountain area, the weather is cool with the annual temperature is between 9ºC and 29ºC. The most convenient time to visit the area is from November to April.

Thua Thien-Hue offers very diversified and beautiful landscapes. Nature and human beings create a harmoniously beauty with Bach Ma (White Horse) National Park and other attractive beaches such as Thuan An, Lang Co and Canh Duong. The province provides a well-balanced blend of royal heritage and folk culture. As a matter of fact, tourists discover dozens of handicraft villages, with annual festivals that are painstakingly organized.

Hue is also an important center of Buddhism. In there and surrounding still exist tens of pagodas constructed more 300 years ago, and hundred of temples and pagodas built in the early 20th century.

Besides, tourist is able to enjoy many traditional famous dishes and find out about sophisticated handicraft here.Hue Citadel has been recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO since December 1993, Hue Royal Musical (Nha nhac) has been declared as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage since November 2003.

Transport

Transportation by train, road, air and water routes is very convenient.

Road: Thua Thien-Hue Province is 658km from Hanoi, 1,080km from Ho Chi Minh City, 108km from Danang. The province has the National Highway 14 that links Hue with Central Highlands. It is also on the National Highway 1A that connects Hanoi and Ca Mau.

Train: The Thong Nhat Express trains from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh stop at Hue Railway station. The local trains come to some other provinces.

Airline: Phu Bai Airport serves flights: Hue - Ho Chi Minh City and Hue - Hanoi.

Duong No communal house

Duong No communal house

Communal house was built for the cult of tutelary spirits (belonging to Phu Duong commune, Phu Vang district, Thua Thien Hue province) who are 7 talent persons of 7 lines of village traiblazing this land with some great mandarins born here.

Communal house is situated on a 420 metres square - wide land with its face towards Pho Loi river. Initially, it was founded simply with bamboo, thatch... In 1808, it was rebuilt relying on money of Nguyen Duc Xuyen Duke with iron wood and Yin -Yang tiles. The peak (two dragons kneeling) bas -relief in the middle. Concurrently, the communal house was expanded more with 5 spaces, 2 wings and 2 inside rooms of the temple. But from 1943 till now, there have been just 3 spaces and 2 wings because of destruction.

From outside entering, the first view we see is 2 pillars of its gate and ground, next is the largest space of the communal house with 209.30 metres square area, 18.2 metres long, 11.5 metres wide and 265 metres high. The behind face has surrouding wall while the front one has just walls at 2 wings. On these wall are embellished flower - patterned designs. On the top corners are 4 bats symbolizing "Phuc" word. At the center is "Tho" word modelled in colourful parcerlain. At the lower positions are image of "long ma phu ha do" (the picture of dragon and horse by ariver).

3 middle spaces of the communal house have not any door but sowing trestle laid in the middle. The main sanctuary consists of 4 carpentrees and 8 main columns, 8 medium - sized pillars and 8 subordinate pillars at 2 wings. The chief worshipping are is of 6 doors put inside frames. On the doorways are ornamented with "luong long trieu nhat" (two dragons kneeling) figures and tigerhead carved. The left and the right - sided rooms are empty.

The middle chamber contains a 3 - story -altar. On the 1st story is of 2 high - woody flamingoes. Between two ones is "Tarn Son" altar used for containing water. On the 2nd floor is a joss - stick pot. The 3rd story has a box of 19 Nguyen dynastic nominations.

In additional, Duong No village has also a bamboo house, 100 metres from the communal house, where Ho Chi Minh president used to reside and study when he was 10 years old.

The Duong No communal house's annual spring festival begins on the 8th of the 1st lunar month and autumn festival on 2 best days at the beginning of the 7th lunnar month.

Lac Tinh garden

Lac Tinh Garden was founded in 1889 by the poet Hong Khang. It is located on an area of 2,070 sq.m. in the former Duong Xuan village, now it is at 65 Phan Dinh Phung Street, Hue City.

Lac Tinh Garden has a beautiful and cool setting with a symmetrical arrangement of two rows of hibiscuses, roses, laurel and ochna atropurpurea along the path leading to the house. Under the trees are small tables and chairs for enjoying the view and drinking tea. At the end of the path is a stylized book-shaped screen. With the structure of hexagonal beehive, the screen creates openness for the garden and reduces the separation between the house and the surrounding.

There are four houses adjacent to each other in the Lac Tinh Garden. Each house has its own name, which has a special meaning and closely connects in meaning with the owner.

Nhan Hau House (Benevolent House) is used for receiving guests, enjoying the moon and flowers and also distributing relief for the poor. It has an open architecture of parterres and bonsais putting around the house instead of walls.

Hy Tran Trai House is located in the middle of the garden. The interior is decorated with many wood panels. The main compartment has fifty-nine iron wood columns with the flat tiled roof. Rafters are carved with images of dragon, Chinese character, four seasons, eight weapons, etc. by the professional skill of talent artists.

Van Trai House is a place for working and relaxing.

Di Tam Thich The Duong House is a place of studying and living for the offsprings.

The architecture and special arrangement of decorated articles; appliances of the house give all four houses an ancient apperance. They give visitors a strong impression of elegance, refinement, and remind them being light in their steps, soft in their voice, etc. Accordingly, when going out of the Lac Tinh Garden and facing the mundane world, we suddenly want to come back to find the cultural way of life, fondness for learning, behavior manner of aristocrats under the old Nguyen Dynasty.