Certificates of merit from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee were presented to the units

As reviewing the process of establishment and development from the Musée Khai Dinh to the Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities, Director of Hue Monuments Conservation Center, Mr. Hoang Viet Trung, said that on August 17, 1923, Emperor Khai Dinh had issued an edict allowing the establishment of a museum in Hue Imperial Capital, named Musée Khai Dinh.

In the edict, Emperor Khai Dinh clearly stated: "The talents of a nation are shown in fine art products, they are the reflection of the nation's social life and political rituals, and also the image of that nation’s soul". This is the milestone for the establishment of Musée Khai Dinh, one of the earliest established museums in Vietnam.

Going through changes in history, the museum has changed its name many times. In August 1945, when Emperor Bao Dai abdicated, Khai Dinh Museum was under the management of the Central Administrative Committee.

In early 1947, the French colonialists recaptured Hue City, Khai Dinh Museum was renamed Tang Co Vien, and under the management of the Trung Viet Cultural Institute; in 1958, it was renamed Hue Museum; in 1979, the museum was renamed Hue Antiquities Museum; in 1995, its name was changed to Hue Museum of Royal Fine Arts; and since 2007 to now, it has been renamed Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities, under the Hue Monuments Conservation Center.

 Checking out the treasures on display at Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities

Currently, Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities has been keeping, preserving and displaying more than 11,000 artifacts; of which, 8 artifacts/set of artifacts with 33 single artifacts which are recognized as National Treasures by the Prime Minister. This is also the venue of the exhibitions to recreate the original space of architectural buildings at the relics within Hue Monuments Complex; as well as domestic and international exhibitions to promote the image of Hue heritage site...

Speaking at the celebration ceremony, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong, highly appreciated the efforts and results achieved by the unit over the previous time. In order to achieve more outstanding achievements in the preservation and promotion of heritage values in the coming time, the Chairman asked Hue Monuments Conservation Center and Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities to coordinate to implement well the conclusion of the Prime Minister in the policy of building a new exhibition area for the museum, in the direction suitable for the heritage space.

At the same time, the units are to strengthen the heritage education, digitize the artifacts, as well as research to promote the values of antiquities, and study the mechanisms and policies to use part of the funding from Hue Heritage Conservation Fund for the purchase and auction of antiques, serving the research and display.

By LIEN MINH