Phu Van Lau is a pavilion located on the main axis of the Hue Imperial Citadel. From the Flag Tower overlooking to the river there are two buildings adorn the face of the Citadel of Hue. One of the two works was Phu Van Lau (Phu: display Van: text, library, edicts, Lau: pavilion) - The pavilion where keeps court’s documents. In the front of Phu Van Lau nearby the Perfume river is a house called Nghinh Luong Dinh,. This place was reserved for the King’s swimming, enjoying the fresh-air and viewing the landscape.
Phu Van Lau was built in 1819 under King Gia Long reign, it was first a small structure, named Dinh Bang (The temple hanging board). In 1819 It was replaced by a two-storey building and renamed as Phu Van Lau where used as a place to post up the edicts of the King, or display the results of the examinations held by the court such as Thi Hoi (National Examination) and Thi Dinh (Court Examinations).
In 1829, King Minh Mang used here as the venue between elephant and tiger, in 1830 he organized a feast throughout the three day to celebrate his birthday. Phu Van Lau is a two-storied delicate house with a view to the South. Under the reign of Emperor Thieu Tri, two stone steles were erected on both sides of the pavilion inscribed with Chinese characters meaning “Take off Your Hats and Dismount” reminding passers-by to take off their hats and get off their horses when passing this monument. The front of gate of Phu Van Lau has put two small bronze cannons facing each other. Emperor Thieu Tri listed Perfume river and Phu Van Lau is one of 20 scenic sights in the capital.
In 1843 under Thieu Tri dynasty a stele was built on the right of Phu Van Lau to address the poem Huong Giang Hieu Phiem (early morning rowing boat on the Perfume river).
For nearly 190 years of existence, Phu Van Lau was restored about 10 times, once as early as 1905 (after the storm in Thin, 1904, Phu Van Lau was heavily damaged), last time was in 1994, 1995 . Restored many times but in terms of architectural structure does change significantly.
Phu Van Lau is a 11.67 m high pavilion with gold plated roofed tiles , it has 16 columns painted dark red (fourth column throughout the entire two-story, 12 small columns), parapet system surrounding and space downstairs completely blank. The second floor, all four sides has Do Ban a kind of silk painting frames, both sides has the round windows, the outside has wooden parapet, above of font window hang a Horizontal lacquered board with leaf formalized decoration "two dragon fight for moon." During remodeling in 1974, some wooden structure columns, rafters have replace by concrete one. Phu Van Lau is a beautiful art works of the Nguyen Dynasty, a unique heritage of Ancient architectural ensemble.