An Dinh Palace in Hue - A Place to Admire Asian-European Architecture in Vietnam

An Dinh Palace, the "century-old pearl" of the ancient capital, exudes the ancient and moss-covered beauty of time without losing its grand cultural, historical, and architectural values from the Nguyen Dynasty. Today, it remains a popular destination for tourists both domestic and international. Let's join Vietjet to admire the unique Asian-European style of one of the most luxurious palaces in the ancient capital of Hue!

An Dinh Palace is known as the "century-old pearl" of the ancient capital, with its unique blend of Asian and European architecture.

1. Where is An Dinh Palace?

Recognized as a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO, An Dinh Palace in Hue is a magnificent and unique architectural work linked to the lives of the last two kings of the Nguyen Dynasty, Emperor Khai Dinh and Emperor Bao Dai.

Located right by the An Cuu River, An Dinh Palace stands grandly with its bright yellow facade. Initially, An Dinh Palace had ten structures, including the main gate, Khai Tuong Pavilion, Trung Lap Pavilion, the boat dock, Cuu Tu Dai Theatre, the zoo, and a lake. However, due to the ravages of time, only three main structures remain today: the main gate, Khai Tuong Pavilion, and Trung Lap Pavilion. Nevertheless, the architectural and historical values of the palace remain intact.

Address: 97 Phan Dinh Phung, De Bat Ward, Hue City
Opening hours:

Summer: 6:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Winter: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Ticket prices:

Adults: 30,000 VND/ticket
Children: Free

Learn more: Impressive Hue sights you must not miss

2. Directions to An Dinh Palace

2.1 How to Get to Hue

If you live in the central provinces, you can easily travel to Hue by motorbike or bus. If you are coming from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, or the southern and northern provinces, you will need to travel by train or plane. Among these, flying is the most convenient and time-saving option. If you know how to hunt for tickets, you can get very reasonable prices.

Currently, Vietjet offers many flights from various provinces to Hue at attractive prices.

2.2 How to Get to An Dinh Palace

After arriving in Hue, you can choose to rent a motorbike or take a taxi to visit An Dinh Palace and other landmarks of the ancient capital. A motorbike will give you more flexibility and freedom in your travels, while a taxi is suitable if you are traveling with family or a large group.

An Dinh Palace is only about 2-3 km from the center of Hue City. If you start from Trang Tien Bridge, go straight along Hung Vuong Street, then turn right at the intersection into Phan Dinh Phung Street. After a short distance, you will see the sign for "An Dinh Palace." You can find parking outside or in the designated parking area of the palace before entering to explore.

3. History of An Dinh Palace

In the 13th year of Emperor Thanh Thai's reign (1901), Crown Prince Nguyen Phuc Buu Dao (later Emperor Khai Dinh) decided to establish his own residence named An Dinh Palace, meaning a place where good fortune begins. After ascending the throne in 1917, Emperor Khai Dinh used his personal funds to renovate the residence in a modern architectural style. After two years, the construction was completed and it was renamed An Dinh Palace.

In 1922, following Emperor Khai Dinh's wishes, the palace was granted to Crown Prince Vinh Thuy, who later became Emperor Bao Dai. After ascending the throne, he and his family lived there and witnessed many historical events.

After the August Revolution of 1945, the Nguyen Dynasty declined, and Emperor Bao Dai's family moved from the imperial palace to An Dinh Palace for a short period before relocating abroad. Only the emperor's mother, Tu Cung, stayed there until 1949.

In 1954, the Ngo Dinh Diem government confiscated An Dinh Palace. Then in 1975, Tu Cung decided to hand over the entire palace to the revolutionary government. During this period, An Dinh Palace was used as a common residence for professors in Hue and for various other purposes.

Despite the many historical milestones it has witnessed, An Dinh Palace still stands grandly and remains a must-visit landmark when touring the ancient capital of Hue.

Learn more: Hue travel - exploring the ancient capital and enjoying delicious local specialties

4. Exploring the unique architecture of An Dinh Palace

4.1 Unique blend of Asian and European architecture

An Dinh Palace sits on flat terrain with a total area of 23,463 square meters, surrounded by a 0.5-meter thick and 1.8-meter high perimeter wall. The palace's primary color is yellow, symbolizing royalty, and it is built in the style of a European castle, featuring French-style arched windows and Roman-style columns. Interspersed are intricately carved Eastern decorative elements such as the four seasons, four sacred animals, and eight precious objects. This truly represents a harmonious and unique blend of Asian and European architecture, embodying the Vietnamese neo-classical architectural style, distinctly different from the numerous relics within the Hue Monuments Complex today.

4.2 The Main Gate

Facing the An Cuu River, the main gate of An Dinh Palace has two stories and is built in the traditional three-entrance style. The surrounding details are decorated with intricate porcelain mosaics, rich in Vietnamese tradition. The roof of the upper floor features a large pearl symbol.

4.3 Trung Lap Pavilion

Upon entering the main gate, the first structure you will see is the Trung Lap Pavilion. This octagonal pavilion is elevated above the ground and has a roof designed in the ancient tower style. The roof is divided into two layers: the lower layer with eight sides and the upper layer with four sides. The highlight of the pavilion is the bronze statue of Emperor Khai Dinh placed at the center. The statue was cast in 1920 and is perfectly proportioned to the real person. Each detail on the statue is meticulously and intricately crafted.

Trung Lap Pavilion has an octagonal structure with a bronze statue of Emperor Khai Dinh at the center.

4.4 Khai Tuong Pavilion

The most prominent architectural work in An Dinh Palace is Khai Tuong Pavilion. Upon entering, you will be overwhelmed by the grandeur and splendor reminiscent of the golden era of the Nguyen Dynasty. The pavilion covers a total area of 745 square meters, with three floors and 22 rooms.

The first floor comprises seven rooms decorated lavishly, with the most notable being the main hall, which displays highly artistic paintings. Among them are six special oil paintings framed in gilded wood, intricately carved with plum blossoms and lotus leaves. These six murals depict the royal tombs of the Nguyen emperors: Gia Long, Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, Tu Duc, and Dong Khanh, painted in a Western perspective combined with meticulous Eastern depiction.

In addition to these six murals, there are many other paintings nearly 100 years old, clearly illustrating the transition between traditional and new Vietnamese art in the early 20th century.

The second floor has eight rooms, and the third floor has seven rooms, which were once the living quarters of Emperor Bao Dai and Empress Dowager Tu Cung. They are now used for worship.

Upon entering Khai Tuong Pavilion, you will be overwhelmed by the grandeur and splendor reminiscent of the golden era of the Nguyen Dynasty.

5. Notes for Visiting An Dinh Palace

To have a memorable visit to An Dinh Palace, please note the following:

Check the weather forecast carefully to choose a sunny day for your visit.
Wear respectful and modest clothing. If possible, choose traditional outfits like the Ao Dai or Nhat Binh for beautiful, context-appropriate photos.
Maintain cleanliness and avoid littering in the palace grounds.
Do not touch or move any artifacts in the palace without permission.
In addition to An Dinh Palace, you should also visit other notable sites in Hue such as Thien Mu Pagoda, the Imperial City, Trang Tien Bridge, Thai Hoa Palace, and Khai Dinh Tomb.

We hope this article provides you with useful information about An Dinh Palace. If you are planning a visit to the ancient capital of Hue, check out Vietjet's domestic flights from various provinces to Hue. Don't forget to hunt for 0 VND tickets from 12 PM to 2 PM daily.

Follow Vietjet for the latest travel information and promotions: