Kien Trung Palace (Viet. Điện Kiến Trung) is one of the most important residences in the Imperial City of Hue, the former capital of Vietnam. It was the residence of the last two emperors of the Nguyễn Dynasty. The representative edifice was destroyed between 1945 and 1947 during the fighting with the French, and its reconstruction began in 2019 and took four years to complete. After 77 years, the building is again an important part of Vietnam’s historical heritage.
Kien Trung Palace – history
Construction of the palace began by Emperor Khải Định in 1921, opting for the European style that was gaining popularity in Vietnam at the time. These patterns were a consequence of colonialism, the influence of Western ideas and the migration of European architects and urban planners to the region. The architect was inspired by the Italian Renaissance, French classicism and the traditional architecture of Vietnam. In 1923, the building was completed and became the imperial residence within the Forbidden Purple City. After Khảia Địnha’s death in 1925, as part of tradition, a mock-up of the palace made of paper was burnt during the funeral ceremony to symbolise his presence in the hereafter.
Architecture of the palace of Vietnam’s rulers
Kien Trung Palace was located at the northern end of the Forbidden Purple City, on a north-south axis. The residence replaced the former pavilion built by Emperor Minh Mạng. The long façade of the palace, facing south, was decorated with colourful ceramic decorations. In front of the building was an art deco geometric park, accessed by a stone staircase decorated with sculptures of dragons and snakes. The façade along the entire length of the building contained thirteen openings on the ground and first floors, including the main entrance door in the central section. Two side risalits contained large doors on the ground floor and windows on the first floor, surmounted by Asian roof gables. The windows were decorated with rich carved ornaments. The roof of the building, with slightly raised sides, was decorated with a traditional Vietnamese attic, emphasising the eclectic character of the building.
The palace in the 1920s. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The heir to the throne, Emperor Bảo Đại, was the last monarch to reside in the palace. Together with his wife, Empress Nam Phương, he made numerous upgrades in 1932, including the installation of modern amenities such as a bathroom. on 4 January 1936, another heir to the throne, Prince Bảo Long, was born in the palace.
Destruction of the palace during the Vietnamese revolution
on 25 August 1945, Emperor Bảo Đại signed an act of abdication in the palace in favour of the revolutionary government of Hồ Chí Minh, ending 2,500 years of the Vietnamese monarchy. After the emperor left Hue, his family moved to An Định Palace and then emigrated to China. During the fighting with the French after the emperor’s abdication, between 1945 and 1947, Kien Trung Palace was burned to the ground and destroyed by the Vietnamese independence organisation known as the Viet Minh. All that remains of the magnificent residence are fragments of balustrades and foundations, which for decades were the only traces of this once impressive edifice.
Kien Trung Palace – restoration after nearly 80 years
In the 21st century, after decades of oblivion, the decision was made to reconstruct Kien Trung Palace, recognising it as one of the most important symbols of Vietnam’s imperial heritage. The reconstruction project was part of a larger programme to renovate the Imperial City in Hue, aiming to restore the splendour of historic buildings and preserve the country’s cultural heritage. Work began on 16 February 2019 under the supervision of the Hue Monument Conservation Centre (HMCC) and Vietnamese architectural restoration specialists. The key challenge was to recreate the building faithfully to the original, relying on surviving photographs, technical drawings and historical descriptions.
The Imperial City and a view of the palace in 2014 and 2024. Photo by Google Maps and Chainwit, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
During the reconstruction, traditional craftsmanship techniques were used to reproduce the architectural details as accurately as possible. The rich ornamentation of the façade, the intricately carved window ornaments and the characteristic balustrades were restored. Special attention was given to the roof, whose design combines European classical elements with traditional Vietnamese attics. The restoration of the interiors was another important stage of the work. Historians and conservators ensured that the furnishings and decorations reflected the appearance of the palace during the reign of Emperor Bảo Đại. Geometric floor patterns, wall ornamentation and furniture pieces inspired by both European and Vietnamese art were restored. The reconstruction of the palace was completed at the end of 2023, and the building reopened to the public in 2024. The entire investment amounted to 123 billion Đồng, or around £19 million.
The contemporary significance of the imperial residence in Hue
Today’s Kien Trung Palace is one of the most important elements of the reconstruction of the Imperial City in Hue. Its reconstruction is an expression of the aspiration to preserve the national heritage and restore the testimony of Vietnam’s history. By opening to tourists, visitors can admire the richness of the architecture and learn more about the lives of the country’s last emperors.
Source: culturephamtravel.com, vietnamoriginal-travel.com
Also read: Architecture | Monument | History | Palace | Vietnam
The palace in the 1920s and today. Photo by Wikimedia Commons and Chainwit., CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
