Make Way for your Highness!

The Nguyen Emperor used palanquin for short-distance travel, carriage for long-distance, and boat for water travel. These were recorded in the historical documents of the Nguyen dynasty and reflected in the remaining images and relics in the Imperial City.

The palanquins used for Nguyen imperial court members are described very detail in the Nghi Vệ Chapter (number 79) in the Khâm Định Đại Nam Royal regulation record (欽定大南會典事例), compiled by the Cabinet of Nguyen imperial court. The name, number and ceremonial procession for the palanquin are specified, based on the era, position and rank of the user.

The Dragon Palanquin is often carried by 16 people, divided into 2 lines of 8.
Under Emperor Gia Long era (1802 - 1820), the emperor convoy included 4 carriages, 1 jaden, 1 golden and 2 “Kim bảo dư”. Under Emperor Minh Mang era (1820 – 1841), the emperor convoy included 5 carriages, named “cách lộ”, “kim lộ”, “ngọc lộ”, “tượng lộ” and “mộc lộ”. Depending on the purpose of the trip, the emperor would decide which carriage to use.

The Dragon Palanquin includes a dragon and cloud decorated chair with a canopy, laid on 2 long bars.

'Two dragon heading toward the moon' pattern, filigree carved, gold inlaid, scarlet painted, decorated on Bao Dai's palanquin

"Two dragon heading toward the moon" image, usually sculpted on the roof of communal house, temple and palace, is familiar to the Vietnamese people, deeply ingrained in their mind and spiritual life and become a symbol of Vietnamese culture.

The two bars of the palanquin is decorated with dragon figures - the symbol of the emperor, with the head at the front and the tail at the back.

Every detail of the Dragon Palanquin is decorated with gold inlaid and painted vermillion. Two main colors of the palanquin are red and yellow

The empress dowager convoy (or “tu gia”), included 1 “phung du” and 1 “phung lien”. The procession for “tu gia” included 2 dragon flags, 2 phoenix flags, 2 “thanh dao” flags, 8 banner flags, 2 dragon and phoenix embroidered great yellow fans, 4 dragon and phoenix embroidered great red fans, 4 phoenix embroidered great green fans, 20 weapons.

The Phoenix Palanquin consists of a dragon and cloud decorated the chair with a canopy, laid on 2 long bars.

The ancient Phoenix Palanquin of Empress Dowagen Tu Cung (1890 - 1980) displayed Ta Tra room of Dien Tho Palace

The palanquin body was made in a box shape to provide privacy for the majesty sitting inside

The front part of the palanquin bars is carved into phoenix head - the symbol of royal ladies.