The remaining foundation of the palace in the Forbidden City of Hue has been restored.

On November 21, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center announced that, as planned, the groundbreaking ceremony for the project to preserve, restore and embellish the Can Chanh Palace - an important palace in the Forbidden City - Hue Imperial City will be held on the occasion of the upcoming Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day on November 23.

Can Chanh Palace's remaining foundation has been restored.

Can Chanh Palace was built in 1804, and is one of the earliest architectural works in the Hue Imperial City. The palace is where the Nguyen Dynasty kings held court, often received foreign envoys, and held royal and court banquets of the Nguyen Dynasty.

This temple was destroyed by war in 1947, only the foundation remains.

Research and collection of documents to restore this important temple has been going on for decades.

In October 2021, at the 2nd thematic session of the 8th term People's Council of Thua Thien Hue province, the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province submitted a document to the People's Council for consideration and approval of the investment policy for the project to renovate, restore and embellish the Can Chanh Palace relic.

Hue Imperial City seen from above.

The project includes items of restoration and reinforcement of the foundation, curbs and steps to their original state; restoration and rehabilitation of the Thanh stone foundation system; restoration of the patterned granito tiled floor; and preservation against moisture and termites.

Restore the entire frame system, roof system, wall system, triple-layer, door; preserve moisture and termite protection for all wooden structures; restore gilded lacquer on the wooden frame system. Restore the roof covered with Hoang Lap Ly tubular tiles; restore the ridge, eaves, recesses, and porcelain inlaid animals; restore the roof decorations with enamel.

In addition, there are technical infrastructure items such as: interior lighting system, lanterns, exterior lights; installation of fire prevention and fighting system...

The foundation of Can Chanh Palace looking towards Kien Trung Palace... in the South.

The project has a total estimated investment of nearly 200 billion VND, with a project implementation period of 4 years.

According to the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province, the architectural values of Can Chanh Palace have demonstrated the talent of the artisans and their deep understanding of the construction of Nguyen Dynasty royal architecture, expressing the unique values and artistic quintessence of the Vietnamese people at that time.

Investment in the restoration and rehabilitation of Can Chanh Palace relic is extremely necessary to restore the world heritage recognized by UNESCO.

Thai Hoa Palace in the North seen from the foundation of Can Chanh Palace.

In particular, the Can Chanh Palace relic project after restoration will contribute significantly to the goal of gradually restoring and completing the appearance of the Forbidden City - Hue Imperial City, a relic site with profound and most important significance in the Hue Monuments Complex, worthy of being a world cultural heritage.

In August 2024, the project to preserve, restore and embellish the Can Chanh Palace relic was issued an investment decision by the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province with a total investment of nearly 200 billion VND.

At the 19th thematic session held in September 2024, the People's Council of Thua Thien Hue province, term VIII, resolved to agree on a plan to use the excess revenue from relic visit fees and lottery in 2023 to implement public investment projects, in which the project to repair, restore and embellish the Can Chanh Palace relic was allocated 62.7 billion VND from this capital source.

The newly restored Thai Hoa Palace overlooks Ngo Mon Gate and Hue Flag Tower to the north.

Can Chanh Palace is the largest and most beautiful wooden palace in the Forbidden City - Hue Imperial City.

According to Du dia chi Thua Thien Hue, Can Chanh palace is located on a nearly 1m high platform, with brick and stone pavement, covering an area of nearly 1,000m2; the main palace has 5 compartments, 2 double wings, the front palace has 7 compartments, 2 single wings, on the east and west sides there are 4 corridors, each side has 5 compartments connecting to Van Minh and Vo Hien palaces and to Ta Vu and Huu Vu.

The entire frame consists of 80 ironwood columns, most of the wooden structures such as beams, trusses, arms, and triple-joints... are all elaborately and delicately carved.

Image of Thai Hoa Palace has just been restored.

Notably, also on November 23, the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province and the Hue Monuments Conservation Center will organize a ceremony to receive the UNESCO Certificate of Documentary Heritage "Reliefs on 9 bronze cauldrons in the Hue Royal Palace" (Nine Cauldrons).

At the same time, the province announced the completion of the project "Conservation and overall restoration of Thai Hoa Palace" and opened Thai Hoa Palace for visitors after nearly 3 years of restoration.

The magnificent Thai Hoa Palace after nearly 3 years of restoration will be open to visitors from November 23, 2024.

Also on November 23, 2024, the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province and the Hue Monuments Conservation Center will hold a ceremony to receive the UNESCO Certificate of Documentary Heritage "Reliefs on 9 bronze cauldrons in the Hue Royal Palace" (Nine Cauldrons).