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| The National Treasure “Nguyen Dynasty Throne” is reinstalled at Thai Hoa Palace on the morning of June 4th |
According to Hue Monuments Conservation Centre, the restoration was carried out in accordance with Plan No. 335/KH-UBND dated August 11th, 2025, issued by Hue City People's Committee after incorporating feedback from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The Hue City People's Committee subsequently issued Decision No. 3032/QD-UBND on September 22nd, 2025, establishing a professional council to supervise the restoration process, which was later restructured under Decision No. 976/QD-UBND dated March 26th, 2026.
The professional council of heritage managers, researchers, conservation experts, and artisans specializing in traditional lacquer and gilding techniques was established to oversee the entire restoration process.
The restoration work was conducted from April 22nd to May 4th, 2026, at Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities, and was carried out by Hue Monument Restoration Joint Stock Company. Funding was provided through socialized resources.
The restoration adhered to several key principles: preserving original elements to the greatest extent possible; prioritizing materials compatible with the original construction; applying minimal invasive techniques and non-invasive ; avoiding the renewal or modernization of the artifact; maximizing the use of original broken fragments; and ensuring structural stability, safety, and the recognizability of the treasure’s authentic values.
Professional measures included: dry cleaning; treatment for mold and termites according to established procedures; reassembling the 14 broken fragments of the left armrest; using wood of the same type and fine wood powder mixed with traditional lacquer to repair cracks and losses; restoring the mortise-and-tenon joint connecting the armrest; stabilizing detached areas with specialized adhesives; reconstructing missing sections using traditional techniques; applying natural lacquer and genuine gold according to traditional methods; and adding a thin, transparent protective coating that does not alter the artifact’s original aesthetic value.
The National Treasure “Nguyen Dynasty Throne” is an exceptionally important artifact within Hue’s imperial heritage system. It was officially recognized as a National Treasure by the Prime Minister under Decision No. 2382/QD-TTg dated December 25th, 2015. The artifact is managed, preserved, and promoted by Hue Monuments Conservation Centre.
On May 24th, 2025, the National Treasure was vandalized by Ho Van Phuong Tam, who broke the left armrest, causing it to shatter into 14 separate fragments. Immediately following the incident, the throne was transferred to the storage facility of Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities. The fragments were collected by the Investigation Police Agency of Hue City Public Security to serve the investigation before being returned to the museum for restoration in accordance with regulations.
The entire restoration process was documented through video recordings, photographs, and archival records, which have been preserved in compliance with regulations to support future management, research, long-term conservation, and transparency in professional procedures.
Mr. Ngo Van Minh, Director of Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities, stated that the restoration was carried out by Hue Monuments Conservation Centre in strict accordance with legal regulations and under the supervision of the professional council established by the city government. Artisans and experts utilized all 14 original fragments during the restoration and did not add or fabricate any new decorative elements. The work followed the principle of preserving original material to the maximum extent possible while maintaining the artifact’s authenticity.
“We made every effort to use as many of the remaining original fragments of the throne as possible during the restoration. Every stage was carried out under a very rigorous process,” Mr. Minh emphasized.
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| The lacquer-and-gold finish was also treated to ensure consistency with the remaining original sections of the artifact. Photo: Hue Monuments Conservation Centre |
The restoration process involved numerous stages, including measurement, technical drawings, condition mapping, and the creation of a 3D model to accurately determine the position of each fragment before reassembly. Larger pieces were restored first, followed by smaller ones. The lacquer-and-gold finish was also carefully treated to ensure consistency with the remaining original portions of the artifact.
Research findings indicate that the throne had undergone several repairs in the past. During this restoration campaign, the professional council removed certain non-original elements, such as metal nails and steel wire introduced during earlier repairs, and replaced them with a traditional wooden mortise-and-tenon system to reconnect the throne’s components.
Following restoration, the National Treasure has regained structural stability, with the armrest restored to its original form. Its shape, dimensions, and color now conform to the documentation submitted when the artifact was recognized as a National Treasure in 2015. No new motifs or decorative patterns were added, and no original elements were altered. The restoration also addressed damaging factors such as termites and mold while strengthening the durability of the armrest structure.
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| The National Treasure “Nguyen Dynasty Throne” at Thai Hoa Palace |
Hue Monuments Conservation Centre affirmed that the restoration of the National Treasure was conducted seriously, cautiously, and in accordance with legal requirements and professional conservation standards. The effort was undertaken to promptly remedy the damage caused by the incident, safeguard the original artifact, and continue preserving and promoting the exceptional value of Hue’s imperial heritage in contemporary life.
Before returning the throne to display at Thai Hoa Palace, the Centre implemented a range of enhanced security measures, including additional surveillance cameras, intrusion and vandalism detection systems, and protective tempered glass around the display area.
More recently, the Centre installed an additional locking system to tightly control access to the artifact. The keys have been entrusted to designated staff from the Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities and the Management and Protection Division to ensure the treasure’s absolute safety.