Forbidden Purple City

Historic Building in Hue

Royal Theatre Citadel Of Hu
CC BY-SA 2.0 / Aleksey Gnilenkov

The Forbidden Purple City, inspired by Beijing’s Forbidden City, was once a magnificent part of the imperial complex. The emperor would have entered this secluded area from Thai Hoa Palace, passing through the Great Golden Gate. Enclosed by a low wall, the Forbidden Purple City contained residential palaces, quarters for the state physician and royal concubines, kitchens, and pleasure pavilions. Sadly, a 1947 fire destroyed much of this area, leaving it mostly open ground, with only fragments of walls and overgrown terraces hinting at its former grandeur.

Among the few remaining structures, the Left House and Right House have been restored. These buildings, located behind Thai Hoa Palace, were used by civil and military mandarins to prepare before meeting the emperor. The Right House, actually on the left from the emperor’s viewpoint, is more intact, showcasing ornate murals and a grand mirror, a gift from the French to Emperor Dong Khanh.

Northeast of the Left House lies the Royal Theatre, an opulent red-and-gold building constructed in 1826 and restored in 2004. It now hosts brief musical performances throughout the day. Nearby is the Thai Binh Reading Pavilion, a peaceful, two-tiered structure surrounded by bonsai gardens. Built by Thieu Tri and later embellished by Khai Dinh with decorative mosaics, the pavilion was a place where the emperor would listen to music and connect with nature. It, too, has been carefully restored to its former glory.

Despite the extensive damage from the Tet Offensive and previous fires, the surviving buildings of the Forbidden Purple City are now part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. These structures serve as poignant reminders of the rich cultural heritage and history that once thrived within this grand imperial complex.

The Forbidden Purple City appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Hue!

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