The restoration work, which began on November 23 afternoon, is scheduled to complete in August, 2025. Thai Hoa Palace, located in Hue Imperial Citadel, was built in 1805 under Emperor Gia Long (1762-1820).
The building is symbolic of the power of the Nguyen dynasty and served as a venue for many important imperial events such as coronation ceremonies, the emperor's birthdays and receptions of foreign ambassadors.
The palace has remained fairly intact to this day. In particular, the special decoration style of "one poem - one painting" (one painting is placed adjacent to one poem) is still preserved in the palace, which has been recognized as a documentary heritage in the Asia-Pacific region.
The 200-year historic relic suffered severe deterioration and risk of collapse in bad weather. Some wooden structures have become rotten and unsafe. Recently, typhoon Noul in 2020 damaged part of the roof tiles on the right side of the palace.
The restoration work is taking place when Hue Imperial Citadel and other tourist attractions in Thua Thien-Hue have been closed to the public since May 11 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Their re-opening day is not yet known.
Prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, the complex of relics within the ancient imperial capital of Hue, including the Museum of Royal Antiquities and the mausoleums of the Nguyen Emperors received hundreds of domestic and international visitors a day.
