Hue Ancient Tiger Arena (Hổ Quyền)

Historic Site in Hue

CC BY-SA 2.0 / Public Domain

Across the Perfume River from the Thiên Mụ temple lies an unusual historic site that many visitors overlook. Winding through the narrow residential alleys of Trường Đá village, you’ll eventually reach the end of the street, where the imposing Tiger Arena—an enclosure surrounded by 16-foot-tall walls—suddenly appears.

Though it resembles an ancient Roman arena, this site once hosted battles even more dramatic and perhaps crueler than gladiatorial games. Known as Hổ Quyền, or Tiger Arena, it was a training ground where the emperor prepared his war elephants by pitting them against wild tigers.

During royal festivals, these animals fought to the death in sacrificial rites. Records from 1750 detail a fierce battle where 40 elephants killed 18 tigers on the Perfume River. Originally intended for training, these contests eventually became a form of royal entertainment.

However, the battles weren’t without danger. On one occasion, a courtier was killed after falling into the pit during a fight. Another time, a tiger escaped and swam toward the emperor, who managed to fend it off with an oar.

In response to such incidents, Emperor Minh Mạng ordered the construction of a secure arena west of the Citadel in 1830, allowing safer viewing for the emperor and his court. Hổ Quyền was completed as a grand, open-air, donut-shaped arena with towering stone walls. As a safety measure, the tigers were defanged and declawed, ensuring victory for the imperial elephants.

The last match took place in 1904 during Emperor Thành Thái’s reign, an event much recorded by contemporaries. After the Nguyễn dynasty fell, the arena was largely abandoned, gradually falling into disrepair, yet it remains a testament to Huế’s intriguing history.

The Hue Ancient Tiger Arena (Hổ Quyền) appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Hue!

This website uses affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you!