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A "library of scriptures" of Vietnam
According toDai Nam Thuc LucandDai Nam Nhat Thong ChiThe Library Pavilion (藏書樓) was built in the summer of the 6th year of Minh Mạng's reign (1825). What is special about it – unlike most other Nguyễn Dynasty buildings – is that the Library Pavilion is located in an isolated position on an island in the middle of Học Hải Lake; completely "isolated" from the mainland, with access only via a stone bridge.
Marshal Đoàn Đức Luân, along with 1,000 soldiers, directly participated in the construction. The building, constructed of brick and stone, has two floors: the lower floor has 11 rooms, and the upper floor has 7 rooms and 2 wings; it sits on a rectangular island (approximately 45 m × 65 m) in the middle of Học Hải Lake.
The building was designed and constructed scientifically and meticulously: a deep pond surrounded it to prevent fires and deter rodents; the lower level was sprinkled with sulfur to kill ants, cockroaches, termites, and woodworms; the upper level – which served as a storage area for documents – had many windows and a sparse railing to allow for ventilation and prevent mold.
During the reign of Minh Mạng, the Imperial Library was protected by the best measures available at the time. It became the repository for old official documents of the government and the six ministries, along with many other documents of the Nguyễn dynasty. Later, the Imperial Library was also recognized as a rare "library" of Vietnam, possessing numerous documents related to the life of the court and the changes in the country. The number of land registers from the Gia Long and Minh Mạng periods alone stored here reached 12,000 volumes.
Thanks to skillful construction techniques, the Imperial Library operated for approximately 120 years during the Nguyen Dynasty (1825-1945). However, after the end of the Nguyen Dynasty and the monarchy, the Imperial Library ceased operation, and the vast collection of documents stored there was gradually lost and destroyed by war.
To become a tourist attraction and a free reading spot for the public.
For a considerable period, the Imperial Library building was almost forgotten. Then, in 2015, the Hue Imperial Citadel Relics Conservation Center undertook the restoration of the Imperial Library building with a budget of over 24 billion VND. The center also renovated, added, and displayed many more books and documents, aiming to transform the Imperial Library building into a public destination.
On April 20, 2022, coinciding with Vietnam's Book and Reading Culture Day, and as part of Thua Thien-Hue province's tourism promotion activities, the Library officially reopened with a revamped appearance. Notably, visitors can now visit the Library to explore and read books for free.
Currently, the Library Tower houses over 70,000 books of various genres and formats, including: Sino-Vietnamese books, ancient texts, scholarly works on the Nguyen Dynasty, books on Fine Arts, Architecture, Culture, Buddhism, Religion, Beliefs, Linguistics, maps, etc. The library tower's storage system will also be continuously updated, supplemented, and diversified with various types of materials. In addition, there are over 4,000 photos and videos about...Hue, past and presentIt is also stored and continuously updated here.
Visitors can borrow books and read them in the library (Monday to Thursday, excluding holidays). The library management also allows visitors to freely take photos in the exterior architectural area.
Additional information
On the morning of April 20th, the Hue Imperial Citadel Relics Conservation Center inaugurated the 2022 Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day at the Tang Thu Pavilion. The event included a series of seminars and exhibitions showcasing historical works.
Some notable activities include: the exhibition "The National Historical Institute of the Nguyen Dynasty and the Compilation of Official History - Connecting the Flow of Research, Preservation, and Promotion of Hue's Cultural Heritage"; the exhibition and presentation of the handwritten "Kieu" manuscript of the Nguyen Dynasty; the "Heritage with Schools" activity and the "Sharing Good Books" competition for students of Nguyen Hue High School...
