Hue city, the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, has announced plans to restore a palace in the former royal citadel in an attempt to give visitors a glimpse at how the former kings of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) lived.
The hall where King Bao Dai met the Japanese ambassador in 1945. (Photo: aavh.org).
The
People’s Committee of Thua Thien-Hue province recently approved funding of
VND123 billion (US$5.2 million) for the restoration of Kien Trung Palace inside
the dynasty’s imperial city.
It will be the first restoration project to
take place at the palace since it was destroyed in 1947 during the war. The Hue
Monuments Conservation Centre will oversee the project.
The centre’s director Phan Thanh Hai said a
plan had been drawn up using old images of the palace.
Starting later this year, the restoration project
will cover two storeys with three stone stairways carved with dragon designs as
well as a dragon embossment on the rooftop. The project is scheduled for
completion in 2020.
In the imperial city, Kien Trung Palace stood
behind the Thai Hoa Palace, which served as the main meeting hall for kings and
their mandarins.
The palace was the home of the dynasty’s last
kings, Khai Dinh and Bao Dai.
The palace was built in a mixture of French,
Italian Renaissance and old Vietnamese architectural styles by King Khai Dinh
in 1923. Earlier at the site, there was a pavilion built by King Minh Mang and
later repaired by King Tu Duc and King Duy Tan.
King Khai Dinh drew his last breath at the
palace in 1925. His son, King Bao Dai, lived in it with his first queen Nam Phuong.
Five of their children were born there, including two princes and three
princesses.
In March 1945, King Bao Dai met the Japanese
ambassador at the palace to announce Vietnam’s independence from French
colonialism.
Source: NDO
As the new year begins and festive spirit fills the air, visitors flock to Hoa Binh lake, often dubbed the "Ha Long Bay on land," to enjoy its breathtaking beauty and serene atmosphere. In spring, the lake comes alive with lush greenery and delicate blossoms, while boats carrying eager tourists glide across its tranquil waters.
With effective business operations, significant increases in the number of visitors at weekends and on public holidays, and being listed among the 71 most beautiful places to visit worldwide by the prestigious US travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller, Hoa Binh’s tourism is "spreading its wings" on its journey towards the targets of welcoming 4.9 million visitors, including 1 million foreigners, and achieving total tourism revenue of 5.4 trillion VND (211.89 million USD) in 2025.
On February 21, the Provincial People's Committee held a conference to implement the tourism plan in 2025 and meet with tourism businesses operating in the province. The event was chaired by Mr. Nguyen Van Toan, the Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and the Head of the Provincial Tourism Steering Committee.
Tien Pagoda is located in the valley of Lao Noi and Lao Ngoai villages, Phu Nghia commune, Lac Thuy district; it is surrounded by two mountain ranges stretching like two giant dragons reaching for the blue sky. Every year, when spring comes, thousands of Buddhists and tourists from all over the country make a pilgrimage to Tien Pagoda. The relic complex of Tien Pagoda is ranked as a national relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism with 21 relic sites of many types: historical and cultural relics, scenic relics, and archaeological relics.
Cao Phong has paid due attention to developing tourism, creating impetus for socio-economic development towards completing the targets set in the resolution of the district’s 28th Party Congress for the 2020-2025 tenure.
A great number of visitors have flocked to tourist attractions in Hoa Binh province in the first lunar month every year to admire the beautiful scenery, fully enjoy the spring atmosphere, and immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere in many localities.
