In the course of researching the cultural heritage of the Nguyen Dynasty in the former Hue imperial capital, researchers often come across precious materials that have been preserved among local families, quietly surviving in the spaces of communal houses, pagodas, ancestral worship halls, or aristocratic residences. Layer upon layer of historical sediment is gradually being brought to light.

In the depth of Hue culture, gardens are not merely green zones, acting as supporting elements for architecture, but a constituent factor shaping the urban identity. Hue is famous for the Perfume River, Mount Ngu, the Citadel, royal tombs, pagodas, and noble residences, but Hue is also well known for its gardens. In Hue, gardens soften architecture, calm the everyday life, deepen poetry, and create a unique urban style: a garden city, a city of poetry, the harmony between man and nature, or “an urban poem” as said by M’Bow, former Director-General of UNESCO.

Recently there appeared in Hue many garden cafes, especially ones at ancient princes’ and princesses’ residences (Phu De.) Around a hundred years ago those houses were places for princes, princesses, mandarins and their relatives to gather on special occasions and death anniversaries.

“Thua Thien Hue needs a survey about all the Phu De currently left in the province in terms of their locations, values, ages, architecture, conditions, etc. The survey will become a database for researching”. (Phu are princes’ residences and De are princesses’ residences in the past).