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After a four-year restoration process and an investment of 120 billion VND, Kien Trung Palace, one of the most unique architectural works of the Hue Imperial Citadel, officially opened its doors to visitors on the first day of the Lunar New Year (Year of the Dragon). The palace, which once witnessed the ups and downs of history, has now returned to its pristine beauty, ready to welcome visitors to explore and admire it.
The palace was built in 1921 and completed in 1923 during the reign of Emperor Khai Dinh. Kien Trung Palace was one of five important structures located on the sacred axis of the Imperial Citadel, along with Thai Hoa Palace, Can Chanh Palace, Can Thanh Palace, and Khon Thai Palace. In 1947, due to war, the structure completely collapsed, leaving only the foundation.
Kien Trung Palace – a unique palace complex that combines the majestic grandeur of the Nguyen Dynasty with the spirit of the 20th century, featuring touches of Western architecture.
This is a particularly important structure within the architectural system of the Nguyen Dynasty's palaces. The main floor of the building has 13 veranda doors (5 in the central section, 3 in each of the two side sections, and 2 more protruding doors in each of the two corners); the upper floor is an attic, built in the same style as the main floor.
The temple had been in ruins for 72 years until a restoration project was initiated. Construction began in 2019 and is now almost complete. The project covers an area of over 3,800 square meters. The construction units have preserved the existing foundation structure, minimizing interference with the original elements of the historical site.
The Kien Trung Pavilion was built during the reign of Emperor Khai Dinh. The word "Kien" means to build or establish, and the word "Trung" implies uprightness and impartiality.
According to old documents, two other architectural structures had previously appeared at this location: Minh Vien Lau, also known as Minh Vien Tower (1827), and Du Cuu Lau, also known as Du Cuu Tower (1913).
The project includes reinforcing and restoring the perimeter walls, railings, courtyards including the front and rear gardens, and steps; restoring the two-story Kien Trung Pavilion (Kien Trung Lau), approximately 14m high and with a construction area of about 975m2. In addition, the project also restores smaller structures around the complex such as: fountains, cannons, guard houses, green spaces, and preserves the foundations of the Dong Cung Lau, the Imperial Study, the Imperial Guard Room, and the Imperial Approval Room...
This place attracts many visitors during the period leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year).
To create a spring-like atmosphere, in addition to the restored architecture, the Hue Ancient Citadel Relics Conservation Center has planted many flower gardens around the area. Also, to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Snake 2025, the Hue Ancient Citadel Relics Conservation Center is introducing a photo collection of traditional Hue Nhat Binh ao dai (Vietnamese long dress) in the setting of ancient tombs and temples in the ancient capital.
The Nhật Bình dress, a masterpiece of courtly tailoring, was once a symbol of power and nobility. Only empresses and princesses were allowed to wear these dresses. Every stitch, every floral pattern was meticulously hand-embroidered, reflecting the power and elegance of the aristocratic class.
The Nhật Bình dress is based on the Đối Khâm Phi Phong style of the Ming Dynasty.
Adopting and improving upon the Phi Phong style from foreign countries, the artisans of the Nguyen dynasty continuously innovated and improved, creating a masterpiece with a distinct personal touch: the Nhat Binh dress. With its unique rectangular collar design, the two flaps are secured with exquisite ties, and when worn, the front of the chest is joined together to form a rectangle, hence the name Nhat Binh dress.
The name "Nhat Binh" originates from the fact that the decorative pattern on the shirt forms a large rectangle across the chest.
In the early Nguyen dynasty, the Nhat Binh dress was usually paired with a white skirt and a phoenix-shaped hat, depending on rank. However, from the late 19th century onwards, the Nhat Binh dress was paired with white trousers and a wide-brimmed headscarf. This style has been preserved to this day, and the colors of the Nhat Binh dress have also become more diverse.
According to "Kham Dinh Dai Nam Hoi Dien Su Le" (1807), each rank in the palace: Empress Dowager, Empress, Concubine, Princess... depending on the rank, the clothing, as well as the colors and patterns, had differences to clearly distinguish them.
Besides Kien Trung Palace, Thai Hoa Palace, which is currently under renovation, also welcomed tourists. Locals watched martial arts performances outside Thai Hoa Palace. According to the Thua Thien Hue Department of Tourism, during the first three days of Tet (Lunar New Year), the historical sites managed by the Hue Imperial Citadel Conservation Center received approximately 65,000 to 68,000 visitors, including about 12,000 international tourists. The entire province is estimated to have received 100,000 tourists from the 28th day of the 12th lunar month to the 6th day of the 1st lunar month.
