Ho Quyen

Ho Quyen, also known as Ho Khuyen, is a unique arena for elephants fighting tigers under the Nguyen Dynasty, located in the southwest of Hue Citadel, on Long Tho hill, about 3km from the city center. In the Nguyen Dynasty, death battles between elephants and tigers were often held once a year with a solemn ceremony. The Nguyen kings were the organizers, commanders and spectators of the match, they enthusiastically cheered for the contest until the elephant killed the tiger. Ho Quyen is not only a special relic of Vietnam, but also a rare relic of the world. Located not far from the Ho Quyen relic is Voi Ré palace built in 1817 under King Gia Long. Both Ho Quyen - Voi Re relics were recognized as national monuments in 1998 and are part of the Hue Ancient Capital Monument Complex recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site.