The Hue Monuments Conservation Center has launched a restoration project for the Quoc Tu Giam relic, situated within Hue Imperial City. The comprehensive restoration, costing over 108 billion VND, aims to preserve this historic site.

Di tich Quoc Tu Giam nam ben trong Kinh thanh Hue. Anh: Vo Thanh

The project will focus on renovating key structures including: Di Luan Duong, Hoc Huu, Hoc Ta, Giam Sinh Ta, Giam Sinh Huu, Tru, Kieu Gia, the Huynh Tu Thu Thanh stele, the main gate, a guard house, and the parking area and gardens.

Di Luan Duong, spanning over 574 square meters, will undergo complete dismantling and restoration, with its wooden components repainted. The roofs of Hoc Ta, measuring over 628 square meters, and Hoc Huu, over 562 square meters, will be dismantled and restored, including the recovery of the unglazed tile roofing system.

Giam Sinh Ta, covering more than 309 square meters, and Giam Sinh Huu, over 308 square meters, will have all non-original structures dismantled and subsequently restored.

The project, officially titled "Conservation and Adaptive Restoration of Quoc Tu Giam Relic within Hue Imperial City", is expected to conclude by the end of 2029.

Nhieu toa nha trong di tich Quoc Tu Giam xuong cap. Anh: Vo Thanh

Quoc Tu Giam was originally constructed by the Nguyen Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Gia Long. Initially known as Doc Hoc Duong, it was located in An Ninh Thuong (now Huong Ho ward, Huong Tra town) to train talented individuals for the nation. In 1908, Emperor Duy Tan deemed its location too far from the imperial city and relocated it to its current site within Hue Imperial City, at 1, 23/8 street.

From 1976, the Hue City History Museum utilized Quoc Tu Giam as its headquarters, displaying nearly 30,000 artifacts. In August 2022, a fire damaged the roof of the exhibition area for artifacts from the resistance against the French. In 2024, the Hue City History Museum moved its headquarters to 268 Dien Bien Phu, transferring management of the Quoc Tu Giam relic to the Hue Monuments Conservation Center for restoration and value promotion.

For over one year, the Nguyen Dynasty's Quoc Tu Giam relic has been abandoned, leading to severe degradation of many structures. The two-story wooden Di Luan Duong building is infested with termites, and the relic's grounds are overgrown with weeds.

Vo Thanh