Mr. Hoang Viet Trung, Director of Hue Monuments Conservation Center

Sir, on this occasion of Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day, will Hue relics have a lot of good news?

It is an occasion to review and honor the value of national cultural heritage, but this year, Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day is even more special because we have 3 major events taking place at the same time: The Provincial People's Committee organized a ceremony to receive the UNESCO certificate recognizing the "Reliefs on Nine Bronze Cauldrons in the Hue Imperial Palace" (Cuu Dinh) as a Documentary Heritage. Announcing the completion of the project "Conservation and overall restoration of Thai Hoa Palace" and opening it to visitors. At the same time, groundbreaking was held to restore and renovate Can Chanh Palace. On this occasion, Artisan Kim Hyun Kon (Korea) also presented a set of plaques and People's Artisan Tran Do presented the Long Ma ceramic work to the relic.

This is truly good news, exciting heritage lovers. Because after more than 60 years of research, the Can Chanh Palace relic will be restored and renovated. The Thai Hoa Palace relic has been completed after nearly 3 years of "major restoration" and reopened. In particular, after many years of waiting, UNESCO has also "named" the Nine Dynastic Urns as a unique world documentary heritage of Hue - Vietnam.

How has the value of the rare documentary heritage of the Nine Dynastic Urns been preserved and promoted in recent times?

Hue owns and co-owns 8 tangible, intangible, and documentary cultural heritages... recognized by UNESCO. This is a great "asset", a resource, a "launching pad" on the journey of Hue becoming a centrally-governed city, enhancing the brand of Hue - "a destination with 8 heritages".

The Nine Dynastic Urns recognized by UNESCO is the pride of Vietnam in general and Hue in particular, especially for us who directly manage and promote the heritage value. It affirms that the land of Hue contains many historical and cultural values, which will gradually be revealed, researched more deeply and recognized on a regional and global scale.

Hue Imperial Palace. Photo: Bao Minh

We have implemented communication, promotion, exhibition organization, clip production, book publishing about the Nine Dynastic Urns, and put them on digital space so that scientists, researchers, the public and readers can better understand the embossed images, the humanistic meaning and the story behind them. Thereby, spreading the historical and cultural significance of the ancient capital as well as of Vietnam to international tourists and friends.

At the same time, the Center is also researching cultural products related to the Nine Dynastic Urns, including digital images as well as versions of gifts, souvenirs... "turning heritage into assets" to serve conservation and development.

It can be seen that the face of Hue heritage is constantly changing, gradually reviving its original appearance in history and is growing with increasingly strong vitality; in which, what value will the completion of the restoration of Thai Hoa Palace bring to Hue relics, sir?

Since being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage - the first tangible cultural heritage of Vietnam, the Complex of Hue Monuments has undergone two planning periods (1996 - 2010 and 2010 - 2020). With the attention of the Government, central ministries and branches, effective assistance from experts and the international community, the conservation of Hue Monuments has achieved many proud results. From 1996 to present, nearly 200 monuments have been preserved, renovated and restored. Among them are many large works with typical historical and artistic values ​​such as Kien Trung Palace, Ngo Mon Gate, Hien Lam Pavilion, The Mieu relic cluster, the tombs of King Gia Long, Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, Tu Duc, Dong Khanh... Intangible cultural heritages have also been focused on studying, preserving systematically and promoting effectively.

The majestic and splendid Kien Trung Palace after restoration

As one of the three most important palaces in the Hue Imperial City, fortunately, Thai Hoa Palace, despite being severely degraded after more than 200 years of existence, is still preserved intact. This is not only an architectural work but also a place to preserve a system of literature and poetry, in the unique decorative form of "one poem, one painting" which has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Documentary Heritage.

Completing the restoration of Thai Hoa Palace, we hope to increase the value of Hue Imperial Citadel in the perception of the public and tourists, and when reopened, this will certainly be a tourist attraction that attracts a large number of visitors, contributing to raising the position and attractiveness of the entire Hue Monuments Complex.

Following the Kien Trung power restoration project, the Can Chanh power restoration project will be one of the typical examples of very elaborate survey and research?

Can Chanh Palace is a special architectural work, one of the largest in scale of the Nguyen Dynasty Royal Palace. After 143 years of existence, spanning 13 Nguyen dynasties, in 1947, the palace was completely burned down. Associated works such as Dai Cung Mon, connecting corridors, Van Minh Palace, Vo Hien Palace, Can Thanh Palace... all shared the same fate. Fortunately, the two Ta and Huu Vu buildings of Can Chanh Palace remained intact.

The Can Chanh Palace restoration project is the inheritance of research achievements over the past six decades. There have been many opinions and debates surrounding historical documents, scientific bases, restoration plans... And the implementation of the Can Chanh Palace restoration can be said to be "fate". Up to now, we have had very solid, meticulous research results, carried out systematically for many years with a diverse and scientific international approach; rich sources of documents, especially film and photo documents; abundant experience in relic restoration work combined with many research solutions on works of the same age... And on Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day, November 23, the project will be implemented, meeting the expectations of those who work in conservation and love Hue heritage.

Along with Can Chanh Palace, Dai Cung Mon relic is also being restored. With the aim of completing this area as a whole, we will focus on implementing, trying to complete as quickly as possible and put into operation the two projects at the same time.

In the restoration and reconstruction of relics, what is important, according to you?

Restoring and reconstructing relics is always a big challenge, requiring a lot of research, time and budget. The biggest goal is to keep the construction long-term, ensuring the original elements of the relic.

In the preservation, restoration and rehabilitation, the most important thing is documents, especially photographic documents. To find sources of documents, we have tried to connect all organizations and individuals at home and abroad by many methods: buying, selling, auctioning, mobilizing, sending people to France... to have as many documents and historical data as possible to supplement the scientific records. Because restoration is a very special science, with the ultimate principle of ensuring originality.

Thank you!

Vi Quan (Performed)