Hue City's Vice Chairman, Nguyen Thanh Binh, issued an emergency construction order on 18/12 to restore a section of the Hue Imperial City wall that collapsed due to recent floods. The order designates the Hue Imperial City Heritage Preservation Center to oversee the restoration of the 14.2 m long, 4.3 m high section. This segment is located on the north face of the Imperial City, adjacent to Dang Thai Than street, about 180 m east of Hoa Binh gate.

The project also includes reinforcing adjacent wall sections to prevent further collapse. With a budget exceeding 2.2 billion VND, the restoration is expected to be completed within 45 days. The Department of Construction, in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Sports and other relevant agencies, will guide, expedite, inspect, and supervise the design and construction processes.

The wall section collapsed due to floods. *Photo: Van An*

The wall section along Dang Thai Than street unexpectedly collapsed around 18h45 on 2/11. An on-site inspection revealed that the wall, constructed with multiple layers of bricks bonded by lime mortar, had lost its cohesion. Despite many bricks remaining intact after more than 200 years since Emperor Gia Long's reign, initial findings attribute the collapse to strong floodwater pressure flowing through pre-existing cracks and damage.

Immediately following the incident, the Hue Imperial City Heritage Preservation Center cordoned off the area, installed protective coverings, and placed warning signs to ensure the safety of residents and visitors.

Since 27/10, heavy rainfall combined with upstream floodwaters has caused localized inundation in various heritage areas within the Kinh thanh Hue (Imperial City). Parts of the Dai Noi (Forbidden Purple City) experienced water levels of approximately 0.3 m, while the tombs of Emperors Minh Mang, Gia Long, and Thieu Tri, along with other historical sites, also suffered deep flooding, impacting conservation efforts and heritage tourism.

Vo Thanh