History of Hue

From 179 BC to the end of the 2nd century AD, Hue was in the territory of Nhat Nam District, under the domination of the northern feudal regime. Then, for about 12 centuries, it was the northernmost territory of the Kingdom of Champa.

From 1306, after the wedding of the princess Huyen Tran of the Tran Dynasty with Che Man, the Cham King, the territories of Chau O and Chau Ly (comprised of Quang Tri, Thua Thien - Hue and part of Northern Quang Nam) took the name of Thuan Hoa. In the 2nd half of the 15th century, under the reign of King Le Thanh Tong, the name of "Hue" appeared for the first time. In 1636, the residence of the Nguyen Lords was settled at Kim Long (Hue). In 1687, it was transferred to Phu Xuan ¬where is the Citadel today. Early in the 18th century, Phu Xuan became the political, economic and cultural centre of the southern part of Vietnam. Then, from 1788 to 1801, it became the capital of the Tay Son Dynasty.

From 1802 to 1945, Hue was the capital of unified Vietnam under the reign of the Nguyen Kings. During these years, architectural works of a high cultural and historic value were built: the Citadel and the Imperial City (100 constructions), the imperial tombs of 13 kings of the Nguyen Dynasty, the Esplanade of Nam Giao, the Ho Quyen arena and the Hon Chen Temple. Thua Thien - Hue is also a province with an important heroic revolutionary tradition. Today, numerous reminders of the two wars for independence can still be found.