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In 2018, the Prime Minister approved the policy framework on compensation, support, and resettlement for the relocation and land clearance of residents in Zone I of the Hue Imperial Citadel relic system.
Phase 1 of the project has been completed, relocating over 5,000 households and constructing a resettlement area within the Hue Imperial Citadel complex, including the Upper Citadel, the moats, the defensive road, and the defensive line. Currently, Phase 2 is underway, relocating approximately 1,000 households and constructing a resettlement area within the historical sites of Tinh Tam Lake, Hoc Hai Lake, Xa Tac Altar, Kham Thien Giam, Xien Vo Tu, Luc Bo, the lake system of the four inner-city wards, and Tran Binh Dai. Upon completion of Phase 2, the relocation of residents from the historical sites will be essentially finished. This represents a significant effort by all levels of government to restore the appearance of Hue's historical sites.
After nearly 200 years of existence and numerous historical events, the Thai Hoa Palace – the most important palace in the Hue Imperial Citadel – has suffered serious deterioration. Thanks to the timely attention of the Government, central ministries and agencies, and the Provincial People's Committee, the comprehensive conservation and restoration project for the Thai Hoa Palace was launched at the end of 2021 with a total investment of over 128 billion VND.
Walking path on the Upper Citadel. Photo: Hue Imperial City Relics Conservation Center.
Given the importance and value of the Thai Hoa Palace, the Hue Imperial Citadel Relics Conservation Center, along with the construction unit, is determined to carry out the restoration work with the highest quality, ensuring authenticity. Currently, the wooden structural system has been installed, and the construction, decoration of the roof ridge, and tiling will proceed this year, with completion expected in early 2025. Mr. Ho Huu Hanh, Director of Hue Relics Restoration Joint Stock Company, the construction unit, said: “The Thai Hoa Palace is a relic of great importance, so the construction unit is very careful in the restoration process. Everything is carried out according to the approved procedures. The project is closely supervised, with input from the scientific council throughout the restoration process, especially regarding technical decorative details and construction solutions.”
This approach is not unique to the Thai Hoa Palace; the Hue Imperial City Relics Conservation Center applies it to all other relic restoration projects to ensure scientific accuracy and authenticity, with the ultimate goal of creating a structure that honors the value of the historical site.
According to the 1990 assessment of Hue's historical sites, at its most complete, Hue's heritage sites comprised a total of 850 architectural structures, but only 460 remain. The other structures have become ruins, and up to 80% of them are in urgent need of restoration.
In response to this situation, the Government has made efforts to promote the preservation and restoration of historical relics. The Government approved the Plan for the Preservation and Promotion of the Value of Hue Imperial City relics for the period 1996-2010, with a total investment of 720 billion VND to preserve, restore, and rehabilitate more than 80 major structures. Subsequently, it approved the revised Plan for the Preservation and Promotion of the Value of Hue Imperial City relics for the period 2010-2020, with a total investment of over 2,300 billion VND to preserve, restore, rehabilitate, and enhance more than 171 structures and structures.
Thirty years after the Hue Imperial Citadel Complex was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site, with the attention of the Party, State, and Government, and the effective assistance of the international community, the conservation efforts have achieved many proud results, with 200 structures and components preserved, restored, and renovated. The Hue Imperial Citadel Complex is currently in a stable phase of development and value enhancement. Hue's cultural heritage is gradually being revived, and the original appearance of a historical imperial capital is being restored.
The historical monuments have been restored and renovated, essentially recovering their original appearance. Photo: Hue Imperial City Heritage Conservation Center.
Due to limited investment resources, obstacles in compensation and land clearance, as well as insufficient historical documents and scientific basis to ensure the project's implementation, many works and complexes planned for the 2010-2020 period have not been implemented. These include important works and complexes such as: the Luc Bo historical site, the Xa Tac altar, the Imperial Observatory, the Privy Council (Tam Toa), the Can Thanh Palace, the Khon Thai Palace, and the Imperial Office...
For structures that are now just ruins, the Hue Imperial Citadel Conservation Center focuses on preserving only the space and location. Mr. Phan Van Tuan, Deputy Director of the Hue Imperial Citadel Conservation Center, stated: “We will discuss and develop plans to determine which structures need restoration and repair to regain their original appearance, while for structures that have been severely damaged, we will have solutions to preserve their location and site.”
