Approaching the Citadel with its Imperial Enclosure and Forbidden Purple City of the Nguyen Dynasty, constructed between 1804 and 1833. It consists of incredible 21m thick walls x 10km long & 6m high with a moat 30m wide x 4m deep. The arch gateway we entered was certainly long and hazardous. A constant stream of motorbikes traffic plus the occasional car enter this gateway! A one way system is indicated, yet ignored by some riders! There are 10 Gateways through the Citadel walls, though not all are open to traffic.
A quiet moment to walk through!
Moat and Entrances to the Imperial Enclosure.
All the palace buildings are gradually being restored. The central yellow doors are closed and were reserved for the emperor. Tourists enter by the left hand gateway and Vietnamese people enter by the right hand gateway.
The once magnificent Purple Forbidden City was almost entirely destroyed during the American war. We watched a video depicting its reconstruction using computer graphics, so anything is possible.
Inside the City walls.
Superb workmanship.
Still beautiful and waiting to be restored.
Restoration gleaming gold and red lacquer work.
Golden yellow glazed tiles on garden pavilion.
Pleasure pond or lake.
Flag Tower of the Citadel.
These ‘socialist realism’ posters are everywhere. Ho Chi Minh is still much revered.
Have not identified the striped flags.
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