After more than 70 years of existing as a ruin, in the spring of 2024, Kiến Trung Palace—one of the five major architectural structures along the main axis of the Forbidden City in Hue, and the workplace and residence of the last two Nguyễn Dynasty kings—has been restored to its former grandeur. It will continue to share fascinating stories about the Nguyễn royal court and significant historical events of Vietnam.

Kiến Trung Palace is not only a large and important architectural structure in the Forbidden City (Hue), but it is also tied to many significant events in the country’s history. It was the workplace and residence of the last two kings of the Nguyễn Dynasty, Emperor Khải Định and Emperor Bảo Đại. This is where Emperor Khải Định passed away on November 6, 1925, and where Empress Nam Phương (the wife of Emperor Bảo Đại) gave birth to Crown Prince Bảo Long on January 4, 1936.

Most notably, on August 29, 1945, Kiến Trung Palace was the site of a historic event. It was here that Emperor Bảo Đại had his first meeting with the delegation of the Provisional Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to discuss his abdication. This included talks about the abdication statement, which Emperor Bảo Đại read on August 30, 1945, before tens of thousands of people in Hue, marking the end of thousands of years of feudal rule and the beginning of a new era of independence and freedom as the August Revolution brought power to the people.

Unfortunately, just 24 years later, in 1947, the palace was completely destroyed during the war, leaving only its foundation.

The history of Kiến Trung Palace went through several stages of development. Initially, there were two buildings on this site: Minh Viễn Pavilion and later Du Cửu Pavilion. Minh Viễn Pavilion was built in 1827 during the reign of Emperor Minh Mạng. It was a large wooden structure with three stories, standing 15.8 meters tall, and was used by the emperor as a place to enjoy the scenery and relax. During Emperor Thiệu Trị’s reign, the pavilion was renovated, and a glowing gemstone was placed on its roof to shine brightly at night. Emperor Thiệu Trị also ranked Minh Viễn as the first among the “Twenty Scenic Spots of Thần Kinh” (Hue’s 20 famous landscapes). However, the structure was dismantled during the reign of Emperor Tự Đức.

In 1913, Emperor Duy Tân had a new pavilion built on the same site, naming it Du Cửu Pavilion. This new building was simpler in design, with only two stories.

After ascending to the throne in 1916, Emperor Khải Định renamed Du Cửu Pavilion to Kiến Trung Pavilion. However, between 1921 and 1923, he had the entire pavilion rebuilt in a style that blended French architecture, Italian Renaissance, and traditional Vietnamese architecture. The new Kiến Trung Palace was constructed using modern techniques and durable materials such as cement, steel, ceramic, porcelain, and glass. As a result, the palace featured many modern amenities, including electric lighting, running water, fountains, lightning rods, and iron doors.

After Emperor Khải Định passed away, Emperor Bảo Đại renovated the palace, adding more Western-style amenities. From then on, Kiến Trung Palace became the residence of the royal family, including Emperor Bảo Đại, Empress Nam Phương, Crown Prince Bảo Long, and the princesses Phương Mai, Phương Liên, Phương Dung, as well as Prince Bảo Thăng.

After five years of restoration, the Kiến Trung Palace monument has been completed and officially opened to the public and visitors during the Lunar New Year of 2024. According to experts, beyond its historical significance, Kiến Trung Palace holds great architectural and artistic value. It embodies the characteristics of an Indochinese-style structure, particularly its distinctive porcelain mosaic art, which gives it the iconic appearance of Nguyễn Dynasty royal architecture.

Thanks to its unique architectural and historical value, since its reopening to visitors, Kiến Trung Palace has attracted tens of thousands of people, both domestic and international, to explore the royal cultural space of the Nguyễn Dynasty. In the future, in addition to displaying royal relics inside the palace, the site will also host various exciting and unique cultural events to meet the needs of tourists.

To discover the Kien Trung Palace, please book the Hue city tour with us here: https://matetourguide.com/hoi-an-da-nang-tours/hue-city-tour-2/