SEAArch - The Southeast Asian Archaeology Newsblog » Hue

Free entry to Hue sites for Lunar New Year

noelbynature — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:41:43 +0000

From January 23-25, visitors to the World Heritage Site of Hue in Central Vietnam will enjoy free entry to the different attractions and tombs as part of the Lunar New Year celebrations.

Hue heritage sites open for free on Lunar New Year
Tuoi Tre News, 04 January 2012

The complex of Hue monuments will be open for free during the first three days of the Lunar New Year, on January 23-25, said Phan Thanh Hai, deputy director of the Hue Heritage Preservation Center, on Tuesday.

Tourists and locals will have the chance to visit popular attractions like the ancient inner city, An Dinh palace, and the Khai Dinh and Tu Duc tombs free of charge.

â€œThis is an annual activity of the center, as a part of the celebration of Lunar New Year,â€ said Hai.

Full story here.

Cham kendi found in Hue

noelbynature — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:05:04 +0000

A 1,600 year old kendi (spouted vessel) was recovered from a river in Hue in central Vietnam.

Cham Kendi recovered from Hue, Tuoi Tre News 20111112

Hue found 1,600-year-old Cham vase
Tuoi Tre News, 12 November 2011

A rare pottery vase dating back to the Champa Kingdom which ruled the central part of Vietnam from 192 to 1832 has recently been discovered under the Huong (Perfume) River in Hue.

Professor Lam My Dung from the Hanoi National University said this vase was the one and only of its kind that had ever been found in Vietnamâ€™s central provinces.

Full story here.

200-year-old cannonballs found

noelbynature — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:43:03 +0000

A cache of cannonballs, thought to be from the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), were found in Hue during some construction works along the An Cuu river embankment.

Cannonballs thought to date to the Nguyen Dynasty, Saigon Giai Phong 20110416

Nguyen Dynasty munitions discovered in Hue City
Saigon Giai Phong, 16 April 2011

While constructing an embankment along the An Cuu River in the central city of Hue, workers dug up 52 cannon balls believed to be from the time of the Nguyen Dynasty.

The City Police have temporarily seized all the cannon balls. Forty-three of them weigh 20 kgs each and the rest are smaller weighing 5 kgs.

After thefts, few royal antiques remain

noelbynature — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:47:09 +0000

Following the earlier story of the theft of artefacts from the tomb of King Khai Dinh, it seems that thefts like these have been relatively common and researchers are worried that there may not be many royal antiques remaining.

Many Hue royal antiques stolen
Vietnam Net Bridge, 08 December 2010

Many valuable antiques in the imperial city of Hue and kingsâ€™ tombs have been stolen recently. Researchers worry that the ancient capital city will lose its attractiveness once its antiques are lost.

On December 1, thieves broke in King Khai Dinhâ€™s tomb in Thuy Bang commune, Huong Thuy town, Hue city and stole belongings of King Khai Dinh and a charity box.

In July 2010, a charity box and several antiques were stolen in the Hue royal palace and King Minh Mangâ€™s tomb.

A researcher of Hue, Phan Thuan An, who has worked at the Center for Preservation of Hue Relics for more than 20 years, said many Hueâ€™s royal antiques have been lost due to historical upheavals, wars and burglary. There are not many Hue royal antiques remaining.

Antiques stolen from tomb of Vietnamese king

noelbynature — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:52:40 +0000

Thieves have broken into and stolen antiques from the tomb of King Khai Dinh who ruled in the earlier part of the 20th century. The tomb, which is open to public, is located in Hue.

Tomb of King Khai Dinh, from Vietnam Net Bridge

Antiques in Kingâ€™s tomb stolen
Vietnam Net Bridge, 02 December 2010

Some antiques displayed in the right compartment of the Thien Dinh palace in King Khai Dinhâ€™s tomb in the ancient capital city of Hue were stolen at night on December 1.

According to Tuoi Tre newspaper, at least seven silver-made items were stolen.

The stolen items were displayed in the compartments that contain exhibits related to King Khai Dinhâ€™s state, foreign affairs and daily life in the period of 1916-1925. The compartment was opened for tourists in the early 2006 by the Museum of Hue Royal Antiques.

Fishermen's catch at the Hue Festival

noelbynature — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:19:09 +0000

It’s amazing how 600 years of history can turn up in the nets of fishermen – they are now on show at an exhibition at the Hue Festival.

Ancient artefacts on show to herald Hue festival
VOVNews, 04 June 2010

An exhibition of over 300 artefacts dating back six centuries opened at the Revolutionary History Museum in Thua Thien-Hue province on June 3 on the threshold of the 2010 Hue Festival.

The exhibits have been selected from over one million items fishermen had picked up from wreckages of merchant ships coming from China, Thailand and various parts of Vietnam that sunk off the nationâ€™s shores during the 15th -18th centuries.

The artefacts were made of various materials ranging from ceramics to stone, wood and metals with China household utensils making up a majority.

Hue city recreated digitally in 3D

noelbynature — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:57:54 +0000

A Korean institute presents a digital recreation of the imperial city of Hue as part of a heritage preservation project between Korea and Vietnam.

RoK institute makes 3D film on Hueâ€™s relic site
VOV News, 02 June 2010

The Republic of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) on May 31 handed over a 3D film on the Ho Quyen relic site in the former imperial city of Hue to the cityâ€™s preservation centre.

The 10-minute film reenacts the Ho Quyen royal arena where tiger-elephant fights were staged in the audience of the King and the royal court as an offering ritual dedicated to the God and the Earth, under the Nguyen Dynasty (1558-1775).

Hue residents refuse funding for refurbishment

noelbynature — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:24:41 +0000

Residents of ancient houses known as Nha Ruong are refusing government funding for refurbishment because of the long-term costs of upkeeping such houses and the strict restrictions that are placed on future refurbishment works.

Residents decline funding to save ancient homes
Saigon Giai Phong, 05 Jan 2010

Despite an offer by the Peopleâ€™s Committee of Thua Thien-Hue Province to provide financial assistance to owners of ancient homes for refurbishment efforts, most have declined the help.

The houses, known as nha ruong, are built with artfully carved wooden pillars and bars in the former feudal capital of Hue in the central region. The residences have great cultural significance but are in danger of falling into disrepair and decay if renovations are not carried out.

The local government has offered funding for the upkeep of the ancient homes totaling VND100 million(US$5,400) each to homeowners for renovations and five-year loans of up to VND30 million to plant trees outside the houses.

Residents complain, however, that the actual cost of restoring the houses is much higher than the government subsidies. Due to strict regulations regarding the manner in which renovations are to be carried out on ancient homes, the owners say they would have to pay large sums out of their own pockets.

Vietnamese king's tomb to be restored

noelbynature — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:48:50 +0000

Restoration works to the tomb of the 19th century King Dong Khanh begins in Hue.

Hue begins restoration of royal tomb
Thanh Nien News, 05 November 2009

The central city of Hue on Tuesday launched a VND76.34-billion (US$4.26 million) project to restore the imperial tomb of King Dong Khanh (1864-1889).

Set for completion in 2012, the restoration project is divided into two stages with the first targeting the mausoleumâ€™s structures, including gates and palaces.

Cham ruins get much-needed protection

noelbynature — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:03:29 +0000

Protective works including a security post and information boards to safeguard an 8th century Cham sanctuary in Hue is set to complete this year.

Sanctury remains of ancient Cham people gets protection
Viet Nam News, 29 September 2009

The remains of a 1,200-year-old Cham sanctuary unearthed in Phu Vang District in Hue will undergo major protection works costing VND560 million (US$32,000) that is likely to be completed next year.

It will get a security post, equipment to safeguard the structure and a stele providing information about it. Its foundation will be strengthened, and two guards will be posted permanently to protect it from vandalism, according to Cao Huy Hung, director of the provinceâ€™s Historic and Revolutionary Museum and the project co-ordinator. Earlier this month the museum cordoned off an area of 7,300sq.m around the tower and put up markers.

The tower was found five years ago when titanium miners dug 8m into the ground. Subsequent excavations by archaeologists revealed the foundation of another structure nearby besides many religious artefacts belonging to the ancient Cham people.