Forbidden Purple City Hue

Hue, the former royal capital of Vietnam during the rule of Nguyen Dynasty, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Being the capital city, Hue is lavishly adorned with several magnificent palaces, temples, royal tombs and other remnants of Vietnam's rich past. Hue finds itself in the company of other former royal capitals in Southeast Asia whose incessant efforts to protect and preserve their outstanding architectural heritage and historical vestiges have made them important world heritage sites. These include Ayutthaya and Sukhothai in Thailand, Angkor in Cambodia, and Luang Prabang in Laos among others. In fact, the Forbidden Purple City, Hue based in the heart of the city is one of the prime illustrations of the rich architectural legacy of Vietnam that draws tourists by hordes.

Said to be patterned after the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Forbidden Purple City of Hue was commissioned by the Emperor Gia in the early 19th century. Today unfortunately most of the Forbidden Purple City stands completely destroyed, due to the Tet Offensive, the spared remains are a nostalgic reminder of the grand buildings that once stood there. The city was supposed to house a new palace and a citadel to be used solely by the emperor and his family.