Ho Quyen - Tiger Arena

Located on the south bank of the Perfume River and 4km from the Citadel, Tiger Arena was where duels between trained elephants and tigers were arranged for the entertainment of the Nguyen Court and the public. These occasions were also the elephant's practice combat Mortal fightings between the beats offered heroic spectacles, through these, the Nguyen rulers expected to remind the subjects of their compliance with the political consciousness: elephants, symbolic of Emperors of unparalleled strength, were winners of all time, whereas tigers, the jungle beasts or rebels against the Court, were inevitably executed at last. Before the fighting, the tiger's claws, his dreadful weapons, were cut off and the elephant was well-fed.

Constructed in 1830, the Tiger Arena is an open-air and solidly built coliseum, Collar-shaped, 44m diameter, it has a wall of earth and brick 4,5m thick, and 5,80m high. The stadium exclusively reserved for the Emperor faces south, opposite are five built-in tiger cages. By the right side of the stadium is a large gate for elephants. Around the wall, there are 5 tiger cages and a large archway for elephants to enter and fight.

The King's stand is facing south, built higher than the usual stands running around the arena. In the place where the King sits, the body of the arena is extended in thickness. The elephant door is 1.90m wide, and nearly 4m high, the path on the archway is narrowed by a bridge, and the arched door has two large wooden wings and stone hinges. Opposite the stage where the king sits are 5 tiger cages.

The walls of the arena have been restored by craftsmen and artisans to the original decorative motifs

The last match took place in 1904 under King Thanh Thai, and was briefly recorded as follows: The elephant came to the battlefield with pride and bravery.

Suddenly, the tiger jumped onto him and clawed at his forehead. The elephant flung his head, the tiger was thrown away. He then jumped again trying to resume his position. The elephant gave an angry, deep-throated teether, and rushed away. He then jumped again, trying to resume his position. ahead and pressed the tiger to the wall with his own body and with all force he could gain. Then he raised his head, threw the enemy on the ground, and smashed him to death. 

The relic in the past. Photo: Delcampe.net

Tiger Arena is structured quite simply but very firmly. Building materials of good brick, stone, and lime mortar, The Tiger Arena remains now almost in a good state. It is not only one of Vietnam's unique monuments but also the world's most valuable architectural work.