Hugging the banks of the Perfume River, the royal city of Hue retains a regal air, despite the ravages of both war and time on its ancient palaces and other historic buildings. Once the capital of Vietnam made it Vietnam's capital city in 1802, and home to to imperial dynasties and the ruling mandarin elites.

Hue is the only one that still has the intact appearance of a complex of the monarchic capital consisting of walls, palaces, and royal tombs. Consequently, Hue is among Vietnam's most valued national treasure in terms of history and heritage. On December 11, 1993, UNESCO's Director General, Federico Mayor acknowledged the Complex of Monuments of Hue to be a World Culture Heritage.

The Palace of Supreme Harmony houses the thrones of the 13 emperors in the Nguyen Dynasty from Gia long to Bao Dai. It was built in 1805.

The palace and San Dai Trieu (Esplanade of Great Salutation) were the site for all major festivities such as Coronation Ceremony, the Emperor's birthday, and where the king held court during the first and fifteen day of the lunar month. On these occasions, the king sat on the throne located in the palace, and the mandarins lined the court according to their rank and title from first to ninth grade, civil mandarins on the left and military mandarins on the right.

The Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) is the last of Vietnam's Royal families.