“Vang son ky my – the essence of Vietnamese craftsmanship” is something that photographer Nguyen Phong is particularly passionate about as he introduced to Thua Thien Hue Weekly a series of photos showcasing “the golden hands” of artisans perfecting the process of applying gold leaf and lacquer to the columns of Thai Hoa Palace.

The restoration work has not been completed, but Thai Hoa Palace has been highly appreciated by many people and tourists for keeping the ancient, majestic features imbued with Hue royal architecture.

Carefully implementing the Thai Hoa Palace restoration project to ensure the methodical and scientific quality, Hue Monuments Conservation Center is working day and night to accelerate all stages of the project, striving to open the palace to visitors by the end of November, ahead of schedule.

The poster of Hue International Arts Festival Week 2024 features Hue purple color for its background combined with iconic images such as Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, the parasol tree, dragons, the sun and the moon… showcasing the richness and uniqueness of Hue's culture.

Along with Kien Trung Palace, Thai Hoa Palace, a palace with the largest and most beautiful wooden architecture of Hue Imperial Citadel, has also been opened by the Hue Monuments Conservation Center to welcome visitors on the Lunar New Year of the Dragon 2024.

Thai Hoa Palace, the symbol of imperial power of the Nguyen dynasty, set to be built by Emperor Gia Long in 1805, is currently being undergoing a restoration funded by nearly 130 billion Vietnamese dong from the state budget. The comprehensive conservation and restoration project of Thai Hoa Palace relic began in late 2021 and is scheduled for completion in 2025.

Inside the Hue Imperial Citadel, Can Chanh – the most important palace after Thai Hoa Palace – was built in the 3rd year of Gia Long’s reign (1804) and destroyed in 1947. This is also the palace that is assessed by Western scholars as the most beautiful and splendid construction of the imperial citadel.

Taking place within the framework of Hue Festival Week, "Royal Harmony" is an art program organized by Hue Monuments Conservation Center on the evening of June 29 at Thai Hoa Palace. The program brought to the audience quiet moments when enjoying the harmony between traditional and modern timbre.

Porcelain mosaics on architectural constructions appeared in the 17th century and thrived in the Nguyen era when many important constructions such as Thai Hoa palace (the Palace of Supreme Harmony) and royal mausoleums were built, making them look more elegant and luxurious.

On the morning of April 19, Hue Monuments Conservation Center informed about the dismantlement of Thai Hoa Palace for restoration.

Responding to the Hue Festival of four seasons in 2022, towards the commemoration of the liberation of the South, on the evening of April 16, Hue Monuments Conservation Center organized the art program "Hue Timbre" at Ngo Mon and the Courtyard of Thai Hoa Palace.