Kim Long Village
Kim Long Village A historic village that remains to this day
Traces Of Royal Architecture and Culture
Blessed with its proximity to the Imperial City and the serene beauty of the Perfume River, Kim Long was for centuries home to royal families and high-ranking mandarins.The area’s open scenery and tranquil paths made it an ideal place for leisurely afternoon walks and quiet reflection.
Has left many traces not only in the architecture of the houses but also in the cultural life of its inhabitants.
Kim Long before the 14th century
At that time, the Champa Empire—a once-powerful kingdom south of Đại Việt—was separated from Vietnamese land by the Thạch Hãn River, near today’s Quảng Trị Province. The region was known for its strategic hills, fertile plains, and bustling trade along the coast.
In 1306, Princess Huyền Trân married King Chế Mân of Champa in a political alliance that would change the history of the southern frontier. As part of the marriage pact, King Chế Mân offered the provinces of Ô and Lý to Đại Việt as a dowry. These lands stretched from the Thạch Hãn River to the Hải Vân Pass, near present-day Đà Nẵng. Historically, Châu Ô corresponds roughly to the area around modern-day Quảng Bình and Quảng Trị provinces, while Châu Lý covers what is now Quảng Nam and the northern part of Đà Nẵng.
15th to 16th Century
October 1558 marked the first time the first Nguyễn lord – Nguyễn Hoàng – set foot in this land.
Legend has it that one day, Lord Nguyễn Hoàng was inspecting the Hà Khê hill when he encountered an elderly woman dressed in red, holding a burning incense bundle. She guided him to a land full of vitality, which he later chose as the capital of Phú Xuân (present-day Huế). To honor the Red-Robed Fairy who showed him the way, Lord Nguyễn Hoàng built a temple on Hà Khê hill, naming it Thiên Mụ Pagoda.
From 1636 Onward
In the 1640s, the missionary Alexandre de Rhodes described Kim Long as the heart of Vietnamese life in the 17th century.
He wrote about beautiful homes, lively streets, and markets by the river.
In 1687, the Nguyễn Lords moved their capital to what is now Huế’s Imperial City.
Today, the peaceful Kim Long Road, winding along the riverbank, still carries the name of the missionary who once admired this land.
With its auspicious feng shui, Kim Long became home to Nguyễn family shrines and the grand houses of royal officials.
During the Nguyễn Dynasty, this riverside area was granted to royal relatives and senior mandarins.
For centuries, Kim Long remained a refined neighborhood of nobility and culture — the living soul of old Huế.
