Halls of the Mandarins

Historic Building in Hue

Ta Vu
CC BY-SA 4.0 / Christophe95

The Halls of the Mandarins are located just behind Thai Hoa Palace, flanking either side of a paved courtyard. These halls played a significant role in the imperial court, serving as offices and preparation areas for the mandarins before they attended court ceremonies. One hall was designated for military mandarins, while the other was reserved for civil mandarins.

In these halls, mandarins would don their ceremonial robes, which were richly embroidered with dragon designs, in keeping with their rank and status. Some of these elaborate garments, along with other ceremonial hats, are still on display in the halls today, providing a glimpse into the grandeur of imperial functions.

The halls were named Left and right paviliions from the emperor’s viewpoint. The hall on the right, known as Huu Vu (Right Pavilion), contains fascinating displays of old photographs, including the coronation of the boy-king Vua Duy Tan, as well as gilded Buddha statues and various imperial curios. This was also known as the hall of the Military Mandarins. The opposite hall, Ta Vu (Left Pavilion), has a similar structure but features different ornaments and served a slightly different function. This was also known as the hall of the CivilMandarins.

Both halls were originally constructed in the early 19th century and underwent significant renovations in 1899. The Huu Vu was last restored in 1977, and the Ta Vu in 1988. These halls also mark the entrance to the Forbidden Purple City from the Imperial City.

Beyond the courtyard behind these halls lie the ruins of the Can Chanh Palace. Here, two magnificent long galleries have been reconstructed, painted in gleaming scarlet lacquer, further adding to the historic and cultural richness of this area within the Hue Imperial City.

The Halls of the Mandarins appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Hue!

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