Royal Palace by night in Hue

      It wasn’t all that long ago that the old capital of Hue showed its boisterous side only on the occasions of traditional festivals. Nowadays, with the spirit to boost tourism and cultural awareness, the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre organises the Royal Palace by Night three times a month in Hue.
During the Royal Place by night, the historical Hoang Thanh (Imperial Citadel) and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel), which were formally the country’s administrative centres during the time of royal dynasties, are aglow with glittering light. After a performance of drums, clarinets and a unicorn dance held in front of Ngo Mon (Southern Gate), which kicks off the evening, guests are invited to enter Dai Noi (Imperial City) to enjoy the magnificent beauty of the old palaces which come alive in the twinkling light thrown off by colourful lanterns, assisted by a laser light.
Reflecting in the water of Thai Dich Lake are Trung Dao Bridge and hundred-year-old Dai (Frangipanier) trees and the air is full of the aroma radiating from water-lily and lotus flowers. Thousands of red lanterns are hung on the trees that line the sides of the walkaways leading to the entertainment and amusement amenities. Hundreds of staff members dressed as imperial guards and maids of the past era and holding lanterns add to the ambience of the night.
Through the unique artistic programmes staged during the Royal Palace by night, visitors are given the opportunity to better understand Hue’s cultural heritage. Activities that adorned the compound during times of yore are reproduced, with royal dances, extracts of Tuong (Classical drama) plays and Nha nhac (Court music) performed, manifesting the intangible cultural values of Hue. Royal and folk games are also organized with the participation of the visitors, making a joyous atmosphere of the festival. Most interestingly, visitors can come to a tea-room situated on a lake of lotus flowers to enjoy the tea-making art of Hue.
Leaving Dien Tho Palace, visitors stroll along lantern illuminated covered walkaways leading to the Can Chanh Palace. Here the visitors can enjoy the unicorn dance and folk music plus appease their appetite with the Gala Dinner, all under the watching eyes of the King and Queen, mandarins, troops and eunuchs all in colourful costume.
The Gala Dinner closes the Royal Palace by night. Visitors return to Ngo Mon via the lantern-lit walkaways. Going along quiet streets in the light of oil lamps and the sounds of horse-drawn carriages, visitors are taken to Hue Capital of the past.