Cung Di锚n Th峄� (Dien Tho Palace), Hue

Located within the Imperial City of Hue, Dien Tho Palace (Cung Dien Tho) served as the official residence of the queen mothers during the Nguyen Dynasty. Built in 1803 under Emperor Gia Long, the palace complex was thoughtfully designed to accommodate the royal matriarchs in comfort and dignity, while still keeping them within the private, hierarchical order of the Forbidden Purple City. Over time, successive emperors expanded and restored the compound, creating one of the most refined and serene areas of the former royal capital.

The palace grounds include a main hall, side pavilions, gardens, and courtyards that reflect the Confucian ideals of respect for elders and the importance of filial piety. The central structure, Main Temple (Dien Tho Chanh Dien), features wooden columns, ornate carvings, and a tiled roof that rises gracefully in traditional Vietnamese style. The architecture combines symmetry with softness, offering a peaceful atmosphere that contrasts with the more ceremonial or military parts of the Citadel.

Notable elements include the Tinh Minh Pavilion, where the queen mother could rest and view the gardens, and the Truong Du Pavilion, an elegant two-story building added under Emperor Khai Dinh. These spaces, along with the connecting corridors and lotus-filled ponds, allow visitors to experience the intimacy and contemplative beauty of royal life behind the scenes.

Today, Dien Tho Palace stands as one of the best-preserved sections of the Imperial City. It offers a rare glimpse into the daily routines, social roles, and private spaces of Vietnam鈥檚 royal women, far from the formalities of the throne room.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Hue. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Cung Di锚n Th峄� (Dien Tho Palace)
Sight Location: Hue, Vietnam (See walking tours in Hue)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Imperial City Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Hue, Vietnam

Create Your Own Walk in Hue

Creating your own self-guided walk in Hue is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Hue Introduction Walking Tour

Once the seat of the imperial dynasty in the heart of Vietnam, Hue is chock-full of stories. During feudal times, for nearly 150 years 鈥� from 1802 to 1945, the city served as the national capital. The royal lifestyle and customs have had a strong impact on the lifestyle of locals, and this impact can still be felt today.

First cited about 200 BCE as the seat of the Chinese military authority... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles

Imperial City Walking Tour

The Kings of the Nguyen Dynasty built their feudal capital along the fertile banks of the Perfume River, whose steady flow, centuries on, still sets up a languid pace that the rest of the city is happy to follow.

Situated within the walls of the Royal Citadel, The Imperial City in Hue is one of, if not the most prominent landmark in Vietnam, renowned for its wonderful collection of oriental... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles

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