In 2018, the Prime Minister approved the Project on Relocation of Residents and Site Clearance of Area I of Hue Citadel Relics, with a policy framework on compensation, support, and resettlement to relocate residents and clear site in Area I of Hue Citadel Relics.
The project has implemented phase 1, completed the relocation of over 5,000 households, built a resettlement area within the scope of Hue Citadel relics including the Upper Citadel, Eo Bau, Ho Thanh Moat and the defense line. Currently, the project is implementing phase 2, completed the relocation of about 1,000 households, built a resettlement area within the scope of Tinh Tam Lake relics, Hoc Hai Lake, Xa Tac Altar, Kham Thien Giam, Xien Vo Tu, Luc Bo, the lake system of 4 inner city wards and Tran Binh Dai relics. After completing phase 2, the liberation of households from the relics is basically completed. This is a great effort of the authorities at all levels to restore the appearance of Hue relics.
After nearly 200 years of existence with many historical events and time, Thai Hoa Palace - the most important palace in Hue Imperial Citadel has seriously degraded. With the timely attention of the Government, central ministries, branches and the Provincial People's Committee, the project to preserve and restore the Thai Hoa Palace relic was started at the end of 2021 with a total investment of over 128 billion VND.
Walking route on the Upper Citadel. Photo: Hue Monuments Conservation Center
Given the importance and value of Thai Hoa Palace, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center and the construction unit are determined to carry out the restoration work with the highest quality, ensuring accuracy. Currently, the project has completed the installation of the wooden structure system and will proceed with construction, roof decoration, and tile roofing this year, expected to be completed in early 2025. Mr. Ho Huu Hanh, Director of Hue Monuments Restoration Joint Stock Company, the construction unit, said: "Thai Hoa Palace is a valuable relic, so the construction unit is very careful during the restoration process. Everything is carried out according to the approved process. The project is closely monitored, with the comments of the scientific council throughout the restoration process, especially the technical decoration details and construction solutions."
Not only Thai Hoa Palace, this is the method applied by Hue Monuments Conservation Center in all other relic restoration projects to ensure scientific and accurate nature, with the ultimate goal of creating a project that ensures the elements to honor the value of the relic.
According to the 1990 assessment of the Hue monument system, at its most complete, Hue monuments had a total of 850 architectural works, but only 460 remain. Other monuments have become ruins and up to 80% of the items are in need of urgent restoration.
Faced with this situation, the Government has made efforts to promote the conservation and restoration of relics. The Government approved the Plan for the conservation and promotion of the value of Hue Monuments for the period 1996 - 2010, with a total investment of 720 billion VND to preserve, restore and renovate more than 80 main construction items. Next, it approved the adjustment of the Plan for the conservation and promotion of the value of Hue Monuments for the period 2010 - 2020, with a total investment of more than 2,300 billion VND to preserve, restore, renovate and embellish more than 171 construction items.
After 30 years since the Complex of Hue Monuments was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage, with the attention of the Party, State, Government and effective assistance from the international community, the monument conservation work has achieved many proud results with 200 works and construction items being preserved, renovated and restored. The Complex of Hue Monuments is in a period of stabilization, development and promotion of value. Hue's cultural heritage is gradually being revived, the original appearance of a historic ancient capital is gradually being restored.
The relics have been renovated, embellished, and their appearance has been basically restored. Photo: Hue Monuments Conservation Center
Due to limited investment resources, difficulties in compensation and site clearance, as well as insufficient historical documents and scientific basis to ensure suitability for project implementation, many projects and clusters of projects planned to be implemented in the 2010-2020 period according to the project have not been implemented, including important projects and clusters of projects such as: Luc Bo relic site, Xa Tac altar, Kham Thien Giam, Privy Council (Tam Toa), Can Thanh palace, Khon Thai palace, Ngu Tien Van Phong...
For the remaining structures that are only ruins, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center aims to preserve only the space and location. Mr. Phan Van Tuan, Deputy Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center, said: "We will exchange, discuss, and develop plans to plan which structures need to be restored and renovated to restore their appearance. For structures that are seriously damaged, there will be solutions to preserve their location and location."
