Amid the historic landscape of Hue Imperial City, Tinh Tam Lake is a peaceful green space once regarded as one of the most renowned scenic sites of the former imperial capital. Beyond its tranquil beauty, the lake reflects the sophisticated landscape planning, architecture, and garden artistry of the Nguyen Dynasty in the 19th century.
Address: Dinh Tien Hoang Street and Tinh Tam Street, Phu Xuan Ward, Hue City, Vietnam.
From an old waterway to a royal garden
Tinh Tam Lake was originally part of the Kim Long River that was later transformed into a lake. It was initially known as Ky Te Pond.
In the third year of Emperor Minh Mang’s reign, in 1822, the Nguyen Dynasty mobilized approximately 8,000 soldiers to undertake a major renovation of the area. The project transformed the former pond into a royal garden, or Ngu Uyen, reserved for the imperial family.
After the transformation was completed, the site was renamed Tinh Tam, meaning a place associated with tranquility and serenity.
The lake has a rectangular layout with a circumference of nearly 1,500 meters. Three islands, Bong Lai, Phuong Truong, and Doanh Chau, stand out across its surface. They were carefully arranged with palaces, pavilions, bridges, covered walkways, and garden features, creating a harmonious landscape where architecture and water were closely intertwined.
Architectural structures among the islands
Bong Lai Island, located in the southern part of the lake, was centered around Bong Doanh Palace. The palace originally consisted of three bays and two side compartments, featuring a double-tiered roof covered with yellow imperial-glazed tiles. Facing south, it was surrounded by brick balustrades and connected to the southern shore by Bong Doanh Gate and Bong Doanh Bridge.
Other structures once stood around the palace, including Thanh Tam Water Pavilion, Trung Luyen Pavilion, and Hong Cu Gate, together with its accompanying bridge.
On Phuong Truong Island, the central structure was Nam Huan Pavilion, a two-story building facing south and covered with yellow imperial-glazed tiles. Other structures included Bich Tao Gate and Bridge, Tinh Tam Pavilion, Hao Nhien House, and Duong Tinh Veranda.
Between Bong Lai and Phuong Truong islands stood Tu Dat Pavilion, connected to a system of tiled-roof covered corridors consisting of 44 bays. The bridges and corridors created an intricate network across the water while adding a distinctive architectural character to the royal garden.
Kim Oanh Embankment and the art of imperial leisure
Another important feature of Tinh Tam Lake was Kim Oanh Embankment, which extended from the eastern shore to the western shore and divided the lake into different landscape areas.
On the eastern side stood Luc Lieu Bridge. To the south was a long covered corridor with 56 bays, featuring Bach Tan Bridge at its center. Near this area was Thanh Tuoc Pavilion, which was associated with the emperor’s royal boats.
Further west stood Khuc Ta Pavilion, connected to Khuc Ta Ha Phong by a small covered walkway built over the water. Doanh Chau Island was located to the south of this area and was shaped like a large artificial rockery rising from the lake.
Together, the islands, bridges, embankments, corridors, and pavilions formed a carefully planned landscape. Each structure had its own position, orientation, and relationship with the surrounding water and vegetation, reflecting the sophisticated principles of traditional Vietnamese garden and landscape design.
A white lotus lake in the Imperial City
The landscape of Tinh Tam Lake was once carefully cultivated with a variety of plants. Willow trees, bamboo, flowers, and ornamental vegetation were planted around Bong Lai Island, Phuong Truong Island, Kim Oanh Embankment, and along the lake shore.
Most notably, white lotus was planted throughout the lake, creating an elegant and serene scene. The combination of green water, white lotus blossoms, trees, and imperial architecture gave Tinh Tam Lake a distinctive atmosphere of refinement and tranquility.
The lake was also once enclosed by a relatively high brick wall with four gates corresponding to the four directions: Ha Huan Gate to the south, Dong Hy Gate to the north, Xuan Quang Gate to the east, and Thu Nguyet Gate to the west.
A royal landscape celebrated in poetry
With its sophisticated yet harmonious integration of architecture and nature, Tinh Tam Lake is considered an important example of 19th-century Vietnamese landscape architecture.
The beauty of the lake inspired numerous poems by Nguyen Dynasty emperors, including Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, and Tu Duc. Among the best-known works is Tinh Ho Ha Hung by Emperor Thieu Tri, part of a collection celebrating the 20 most beautiful landscapes of the imperial capital.
The scenery of Tinh Tam Lake and the poem were also reproduced in glass paintings, which were displayed in royal palaces.
A landscape shaped by time
From the late 19th century onward, as the site received less maintenance and care, many of the original structures around Tinh Tam Lake gradually deteriorated, disappeared, or were dismantled.
In 1946, the original high brick wall surrounding the lake was demolished and replaced by a lower wall. In 1960, a small octagonal pavilion was built on the former site of Bong Doanh Palace as a commemorative structure. During later restoration work, a concrete bridge was also constructed to connect Bong Lai Island with Kim Oanh Embankment.
Although many of the original architectural structures have been lost, the lake, islands, embankment, and remaining traces of the historic landscape continue to preserve an important part of the former royal garden.
Tinh Tam Lake today
Today, Tinh Tam Lake remains a quiet green space in the heart of Hue. Away from the bustle of the surrounding urban streets, visitors can discover a tranquil landscape of water, trees, and historic remains that recalls the royal gardens of the Nguyen Dynasty.
The value of Tinh Tam Lake lies not only in its scenery but also in the way the landscape was designed around the harmonious relationship between architecture, water, vegetation, and garden artistry.
For travelers interested in imperial architecture, the landscape of Hue Imperial City, and the cultural life of the Nguyen Dynasty, Tinh Tam Lake offers a quieter perspective on Hue beyond its better-known monuments.
Heritage Information
Tinh Tam Lake was officially recognized as a National Monument, classified as an architectural and artistic heritage site, under Decision No. 99/2004/QD-BVHTT dated December 15, 2004, issued by the Ministry of Culture and Information of Vietnam.
