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| The archaeological excavation site at Dai Cung Mon, Hue Imperial Citadel |
An important “missing piece”
The “Reconstruction of Dai Cung Mon heritage site” project was approved for investment by Thua Thien Hue Provincial People’s Council under Resolution No. 91/NQ-HĐND dated November 15, 2024, with a total estimated investment of over 64.6 billion VND. The project is led by Hue Monuments Conservation Center (HMCC), directly managed by Hue Heritage Project Management Board, and is set to be implemented over four years.
The project is currently awaiting approval from Hue City People’s Committee before proceeding, with construction expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026.
Dai Cung Mon was once the main gate of the Forbidden Purple City - the area reserved for the “private” royal activities of the Nguyen Dynasty. The structure stands at the center of the southern facade of the Forbidden Purple City, north of Thai Hoa Palace and in front of Can Chanh Palace. Flanking Dai Cung Mon are two side gates: Nhat Tinh to the east and Nguyet Anh to the west.
Mr. Hoang Viet Trung, Director of the HMCC, noted that Dai Cung Mon holds significant cultural, historical, and artistic value - both for the Forbidden Purple City specifically and for the Hue Monument Complex as a whole. Among the ten gates of the Forbidden Purple City, it is the most important and the only one located on the southern facade, serving as the connecting link between the Imperial Citadel and the inner palace of the Nguyen Dynasty.
According to historical records, Dai Cung Mon was built during the reign of Emperor Minh Mang in 1833. By 1839, the structure had been lacquered and gilded, giving it the brilliant appearance characteristic of imperial court architecture. Later, during the reign of Emperor Thanh Thai (1899), the floors of the palaces were paved with cement flower tiles.
For many decades, Dai Cung Mon and its surrounding structures were regularly maintained and repaired by the royal court. Nguyen Dynasty documents record numerous inspections and restorations of Can Chanh Palace, Ta Vu, Huu Vu, and the corridor system surrounding Dai Cung Mon.
However, wars brought the structure to near complete destruction. In February 1947, Dai Cung Mon was burned down. In the decades that followed, amid the upheavals of the times, even the remaining foundation was altered to some degree.
Tracing the original remains
Mr. Phung Van Hoang, Deputy Director in charge of Hue Heritage Project Management Board, explained that based on available documentation, the original foundation of Dai Cung Mon was destroyed and buried underground. What is visible today is the result of repair and reinforcement work carried out in the early 1990s.
In preparation for the restoration project, in April 2025, the HMCC and the National Museum of Vietnamese History jointly conducted archaeological excavations at the Dai Cung Mon heritage site. Phung Phuong Thao, the project manager for Dai Cung Mon, reported that archaeologists exposed six excavation trenches and eight exploratory pits, covering a total area of over 60 square meters.
“The excavation results helped identify the location and traces of Dai Cung Mon’s original foundation, providing important evidence about its historical formation, scale, structure, and architectural layout - forming the basis for reconstruction work,” said Ms. Thao.
A notable discovery was that the foundation of Dai Cung Mon overlaps with the remains of the Ta Tuc and Huu Tuc gates, as well as part of the rear foundation of Thai Hoa Palace from the Gia Long period (1804–1833). The excavation also uncovered a section of the Dung Dao pathway curbing from the Minh Mang era, running through the central compartment of Dai Cung Mon and connecting the axis between Thai Hoa Palace and Can Chanh Palace.
During the excavation, 402 artifact fragments were collected, including architectural materials, glazed ceramics, stoneware, and iron nails used in timber structures. The artifacts date from the 16th century to the early 20th century.
“In researching and compiling the reconstruction dossier for Dai Cung Mon, we were fortunate that the structure is relatively well-documented in photographs and historical records. Combining these sources with archaeological and survey findings has allowed us to clearly determine the original position, scale, and structure of the building - providing a solid foundation for the reconstruction plan,” continued Ms. Thao.
Completing the central axis of the Imperial Citadel
The Dai Cung Mon reconstruction project is being carried out in accordance with the Cultural Heritage Law, the Construction Law, the Public Investment Law, and specialized regulations on heritage site restoration. The guiding principle is to preserve the authenticity of the monument to the greatest extent possible, while drawing on decades of experience in Hue heritage conservation.
According to the design documentation, Dai Cung Mon will be reconstructed as a five-compartment structure in the traditional Hue architectural style. The timber frame and roof will be reconstructed using ironwood, with carved decorative details recreated on the wooden components. The lien ba (intercolumnar decorative) panels and door partitions will be carved in the “nhat thi, nhat hoa” (one poem, one painting) motif. Two hanging boards bearing the inscriptions “Dai Cung Mon” and “Can Thanh Cung” will also be reconstructed, along with their decorative details.
The entire timber frame will be lacquered and gilded. The roof will be tiled with yellow glazed cylindrical tiles using traditional methods. Decorative figurines along the ridge and hip ends will be reconstructed using phap lam (enamelled bronze) and ceramic inlay. Notably, “a section of the Minh Mang-era foundation uncovered during the archaeological excavation will be preserved in situ and displayed beneath 1m x 1m tempered glass panels, allowing visitors to observe the historical remains directly,” said Mr. Phung Van Hoang.
As for Mr. Phung Van Hoang, Dai Cung Mon sits along the main visiting route from Thai Hoa Palace into the Forbidden Purple City. During the reconstruction, adjustments will be made to this route to minimize disruption to tourists.
Once completed, the reconstruction of Dai Cung Mon will contribute to enhancing the value of the heritage site and gradually complete the structures along the central axis of the Hue Imperial Citadel, connecting the monuments of Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Can Chanh Palace, the Corridor System, and Kien Trung Palace.