Flag Tower (Ky Dai)
The main focal point of the Imperial City, Hue’s Flag Tower (Kỳ Đài) greets visitors upon arrival at the Citadel, sitting opposite its main entrance and facing out across the river. The tower was built at the beginning of the 19th century during Emperor Gia Long's reign, although the flag staff has been destroyed and rebuilt a number of times since.
This is Vietnam's tallest flagpole. The yellow flag of royalty was the first to fly here, before being replaced by many others throughout Vietnam's colorful history. During the Viet Cong occupation in the 1960s, the flag of the National Liberation Front flew from the Flag Tower for more than three weeks. The tower itself is made up of three platforms, with the third featuring eight canons and a sentry box at either end.
Practical Info
The Flag Tower in Hue sits right opposite the main entrance to the Citadel, overlooking the river. Although visitors are free to take photographs, they are no longer permitted to climb up on the structure.
Trip ideas
- Thai Hoa Palace
- Noon Gate (Cua Ngo Mon)
- Nine Dynastic Urns
- Royal Antiquities Museum
- Ho Chi Minh Museum
- Perfume River (Song Huong River)
- Dong Ba Market (Cho Dong Ba)
- Forbidden Purple City (Tu Cam Thanh)
- Tinh Tam Lake (Ho Tinh Tam)
- Bao Quoc Pagoda (Chua Bao Quoc)
- Bach Ma National Park (Vuon Quoc gia Bach Ma)
- Tomb of Tu Duc (Lang Tu Duc)
- Thien Mu Pagoda
- Cat Tuong Quan Zen House
- Thanh Toan Bridge