An Dinh Palace Hue

An Dinh Palace Hue Introduction

An Dinh Palace is the unique art architecture of the Nguyen Dynasty built in the early 20th century. Sitting on the bank of An Cuu River, now it is at 97 Phan Dinh Phung Street, Phu Nhuan Ward, Hue City. Formerly, this building was constructed by the Dong Khanh emperor as a gift to the eldest son Nguyen Phuc Buu Dao (Khai Dinh emperor).

History of An Dinh Place 

In 1902, the Khai Dinh emperor named this palace is An Dinh Palace, and in 1917, he used his own money to renovate it following modern architecture as the present. In 1922, this palace was the residence of the crown prince Bao Dai. After 1945, when the dynasty finished, the family of Bao Dai moved here to live.

From 2002, The An Dinh palace was transferred to Hue Monuments Conservation Center for management; continued restoration, embellishment, and putting into tourism operation so far.

Settings of the palace

The An Dinh Palace faces the South lies on the An Cuu riverbank. The palace has a flat terrain, a total area of 23.463 m2, surrounded by brick walls, 0.5 m thick, 1, 8m high on a tandem iron fence. When intact there are about 10 monuments. From the front, it includes the marina, the main gate, Trung Lap Pavillion, Khai Tuong palace, Cuu Tu Dai theatre, an animal cage as well as the lake.

What to see at An Dinh Palace Hue nowadays?

Over time and the devastation of the war, there are only 3 remaining monuments intact, the main gate, the Trung Lap pavilion, and the Khai Tuong palace.

The Main Gate

The main gate built following the three-door gate style, with 2 stories and decorated with elaborate porcelain, ceramics.

Trung Lap Pavillion

Trung Lap Pavillion is just right behind the main gate, it is an octagon-style structure, a high background. Inside the pavilion is a bronze statue of the Khai Dinh emperor. It was cast in 1920 following the right proportion of the emperor’s body.

Khai Tuong Palace

Khai Tuong palace is the main architectural structure of the An Dinh Palace with 3 stories. It built with new materials in the style of the European castles, a total area of 745m2. The floor is decorated very elaborately, especially the interior of the 1st floor with frescoes of high artistic value.

Compared with other architectured monuments at the same time, the palace is a construction of the foundation that is started and completed earliest. Opening for the period of the art history of Hue in contact and influenced by Western. Moreover, An Dinh Palace Hue also creates unique features in harmonious combination between traditional decoration themes such as the four spiritual animals, four seasons; stylized pattern with the decorations column in the Roman style, the legend of Honour or the angels- the European styles.

On the occasion of Hue Festivals; An Dinh Palace is always one of the important places of performing arts activities, antique exhibitions, etc. That attracts a significant amount of tourists to visit Hue, contributing to the success of the Festival in Hue.

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How to get to An Dinh Palace?

Well, there are many different ways to get here. You can walk here, take a taxi, Grabbike, as well as drive a scooter with helmets. If not, you can book Hue City Tour By Private Car with an English-speaking driver. If you would like to explore all the most beautiful places as known as the Unesco World Heritages such as Hue Imperial Citadel; Hue Royal Tombs, Thien Mu Pagoda, etc. You should book Hue City Private Tour via Best Hue City Tour Travel.

The open time of An Dinh Palace is from 7 am to 5 pm, every day. The entrance tickets cost VND 50,000 roughly USD 2.16. Moreover, children under 11 years old are free.