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| Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo listening to the process and techniques used to restore the original mural system at An Dinh Palace during his visit to Hue heritage sites on May 22 |
An Dinh Palace and the Imprint of Preservation
Within the Complex of Hue Monuments, An Dinh Palace is one of the places that clearly reflects the effective support from the international community. Since 2022, through the UNESCO Office in Hanoi, French Government has continuously funded important projects focusing on the restoration and preservation of the palace’s unique architectural features, which date back over 100 years.
From 2002 to 2008, the Project for the Conservation and Restoration of Interiors and Technical Training at An Dinh Palace was a collaborative effort between Hue Monuments Conservation Center and German Association for Cultural Exchange Leiniz, with support from the German Federal Foreign Office. The project aimed to restore valuable works of art, while also providing technical training for local apprentices in mural conservation and restoration. After completing their training, these trainees continued to contribute effectively to the restoration of murals at An Dinh Palace and other heritage sites in Hue. Typically, the restoration project of Khai Tuong Lau's roof (2022 - 2023), funded by the Ministry of Culture and the French government through UNESCO, has contributed to restoring the inherent beauty of the castle and enhancing the overall value of the An Dinh Palace heritage site.
Building on that success, from March to December 2025, Phase 2 of the project titled “Survey, Sample Restoration, and Comprehensive Development for the Conservation and Restoration of the Original Mural System at An Dinh Palace” is being implemented. With a total budget of over USD 33,000 funded by the Ministry of Culture and the French Government through UNESCO, the project focuses on restoring original paint layers, decorative murals, and intricate patterns of high artistic and historical value on the third floor of Khai Tuong Lau.
According to Ms. Andrea Teufel, representative of German Heritage Conservation Association, this second phase of the project marks the beginning of a comprehensive conservation plan for An Dinh Palace. Several tasks are being carried out, including surveying the third floor with a focus on studying architectural paint layers; conducting sample restorations of original decorative murals and patterns in various rooms; and assessing the technical condition of the building.
Heritage is revived
It was no coincidence that Hue was recognized by UNESCO in 1993 as Vietnam’s first World Cultural Heritage site. Even before that, UNESCO had played an advisory role in developing a comprehensive conservation plan, providing technical guidance for restoration, and introducing the first international standards for the preservation of Hue’s monuments.
In 1992, with the first restoration project, the renovation of Ngo Mon Gate, funded by a grant worth 100,000 USD from the Japanese Trust Fund, Hue’s heritage preservation officially entered a phase of professionalization. Since then, through more than 60 international programs and projects, UNESCO and its partner organizations have brought to Hue over 10.5 million USD in financial resources, along with hundreds of technical experts and consultants from over 15 governments and 50 global non-governmental organizations.
Notable projects such as the restoration of Dien Tho Palace after the 1999 flood, the preparation of the dossier that led to the recognition of the Imperial Court Music as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2003, and more recently, programs involving digitization, training of conservation technicians, application of GIS technology, and multimedia communication in heritage management have helped Hue’s preservation efforts enter a new chapter which is both professional and integrated with global standards.
“It is unimaginable where Hue’s preservation journey would have reached without the support of the international community, in which UNESCO has been the most essential and long-term companion", affirmed Mr. Hoang Viet Trung, Director of Hue Monuments Conservation Center.
UNESCO also plays a long-term guiding role in the development of Hue’s heritage. In recent years, UNESCO has collaborated with Hue Monuments Conservation Center to implement numerous training programs, technology transfers, and specialized workshops to keep up with modern conservation trends, especially in the context of climate change and rapid urbanization.
During his recent visit to Hue heritage site on May 22, 2025, Mr. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of UNESCO World Heritage Center highly praised the conservation, restoration, and preservation efforts in Hue, particularly highlighting structures such as Kien Trung Palace and Thai Hoa Palace. When Hue Monuments Conservation Center shared with him their ongoing research to prepare a dossier for the project “Comprehensive Restoration of An Dinh Palace” and their proposal to seek funding approval from the French Ministry of Culture and UNESCO, the Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Center expressed enthusiasm for the project and agreed to support it during his tenure.
Over 40 years of partnership and over 60 projects implemented, these figures not only reflect the enduring commitment of UNESCO and the international community to Hue’s heritage but also affirm the global significance and value of the Complex of Hue Monuments. Along this journey, UNESCO’s support has been more than just financial or technical assistance; it has been the companionship of a friend who understands Hue, believes in Hue, and helps elevate the heritage’s value on the world map.