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| City leaders presenting flowers to congratulate the conference on year-end review ceremony |
According to the assessment at the conference, 2025 continued to be a year marked by many significant highlights in the work of conserving and promoting the values of Hue Imperial Heritage. Monument restoration and conservation activities were implemented in a methodical and scientific manner, strictly adhering to conservation principles, while gradually being linked with tourism development and the local economy.
During the year, HMCC commenced three new projects and one construction item. Many important monuments were prioritized for restoration and rehabilitation, contributing to the protection of original values and the preservation of the heritage landscape. Concurrently, the Center proactively rolled out various new service models and applied modern science and technology, helping Hue Heritage reach domestic and international audiences and visitors more closely.
Regarding investment resources, the total capital plan allocated for monument conservation, repair, and restoration in 2025 exceeded 461.4 billion VND. Of this amount, the capital allocated within the year reached more than 357.1 billion VND, while carry-over capital from 2024 to 2025 exceeded 104.2 billion VND. The cumulative disbursement value in 2025 reached nearly 309.8 billion VND, equivalent to 67%. The remaining capital of more than 151.7 billion VND is expected to be extended and fully disbursed in 2026 in accordance with regulations.
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| Chairman of the City People’s Committee Nguyen Khac Toan presents the Prime Minister’s Certificate of Merit to Deputy Director Nguyen Phuoc Hai Trung |
In addition, the Center continued to focus on investment preparation for major projects in the 2026-2030 medium-term period and projects already allocated capital in 2025, such as the adaptive restoration and rehabilitation of Dien Thoai Thanh (the mausoleum of Emperor Gia Long); artistic lighting and decoration of Ngo Mon Square area and several roads within the Imperial City; overall conservation and construction of an exhibition building for Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities; and the restoration, repair, and embellishment of Co Ha Garden.
Beyond its role in preserving cultural and historical values, Hue Heritage has increasingly affirmed its position as an important driver of tourism and local economic development. In 2025, the total number of visitors to Hue monuments exceeded 3,16 million, an increase of 14,2% compared to the same period in 2024. Total revenue from monument visitation activities surpassed 473 billion VND, the highest level ever recorded, up more than 51 billion VND from the previous year and reaching 110% of the State-assigned plan.
Alongside digital transformation, archival work and heritage data digitization continued to receive strong attention from the Center. During the year, the unit received and archived approximately 400 dossiers; catalogued 225 preservation units related to monument restoration and repair projects; and received tens of thousands of valuable documentary image files on Hue monuments from French archival institutions such as the Nation Overseas Archives - Archives nationales d'Outre-Mer (ANOM) and the French School of Far Eastern Studies - École Française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO). These are considered important source materials serving long-term research, conservation, and heritage promotion.
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| Reenactment of the Nguyen Dynasty Ban Soc Ceremony - opening Hue Festival 2026 |
In the field of culture and arts, in 2025, Hue Monuments Conservation Center coordinated with other units to organize 20 large-scale activities, contributing to promoting Hue’s image, stimulating tourism demand, and laying the groundwork for Hue Festival 2026. The Center also played a core role in advising on the development of plans for National Tourism Year activities and Hue Festival, gradually affirming its pioneering role in turning heritage into a “living cultural space”.
In his directive speech at the conference, Chairman Nguyen Khac Toan commended the efforts and outstanding results achieved by Hue Monuments Conservation Center over the past period, which have made an important contribution to the city’s socio-economic development. At the same time, the Chairman candidly pointed out existing shortcomings that need to be addressed promptly, such as the deterioration of certain monuments, limited conservation resources relative to the vast volume of heritage assets, the quality of some service products not yet commensurate with the stature of the heritage, and experiential spaces, especially nighttime experiences, still having room to become more attractive.
Entering the year 2026, the Chairman required Hue Monuments Conservation Center to strongly innovate in mindset and creativity in its approach, while absolutely not deviating from scientific conservation principles. In particular, it must remain steadfast in sustainable conservation, proactively integrate international standards; closely link conservation with heritage value promotion, forming an ecosystem of “heritage - tourism - cultural industries”; accelerate digital transformation and digitization of materials; build a strong conservation workforce; enhance transparency and accountability; and promote the community’s supervisory role.
“Hue Heritage is an invaluable asset not only of Hue but of all of Vietnam and humanity. It is our responsibility to preserve it, promote it, and pass it on to future generations in a better state, more vibrant and more meaningful,” the Chairman emphasized, while affirming that the city will continue to accompany and create favorable conditions for Hue Monuments Conservation Center to successfully fulfill its role as a trusted “guardian” of the Imperial Heritage.