With Vietpower Travel, your journey into Vietnam’s royal legacy begins at the Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities — a cultural gem nestled within the UNESCO-listed Imperial City. Established in 1923 under Emperor Khai Dinh, this museum preserves over 9,000 artifacts, from Nguyen Dynasty treasures to ancient Champa relics. Visitors can admire imperial costumes, porcelain, jade ornaments, and the exquisite architecture of Long An Palace, a symbol of Hue’s timeless artistry and heritage.
The Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities is one of Vietnam’s earliest museums, preserving royal artifacts of the Nguyen Dynasty. It is located at 03 Le Truc Street, inside Hue’s UNESCO World Heritage Complex.
Before becoming a museum, the building was the Tan Tho Vien—the library of the Quoc Tu Giam Imperial Academy, built in 1909. This transition from royal library to public museum marks the beginning of heritage preservation in modern Hue.
The site reflects a blend of Vietnamese royal architecture and French colonial influence, creating a calm and elegant space for visitors. When exploring hue city attractions, this museum is an essential stop to understand Vietnam’s imperial past.
The museum manages about 20 collections containing over 9,000 artifacts. Exhibits include royal thrones, gilded palanquins, imperial edicts, and ceremonial objects used by Nguyen emperors and queens.
Each item represents the artistry and dignity of Vietnam’s final dynasty, symbolizing national identity and cultural continuity through centuries.
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Long An Palace features the double-roof “trung thiem diep oc” design typical of Hue’s palatial architecture. Its open-ceiling structure exposes a network of carved wooden beams, highlighting skilled royal craftsmanship.
The building is supported by 128 ironwood (Erythrophleum fordii) columns (Rate Attribute #2), a rare and extremely durable Vietnamese hardwood recognized for its cultural value.
Roof ridges are decorated with “bipedal paintings” and the Four Holy Beasts (Dragon, Qilin, Turtle, Phoenix) (Rate Attribute #3), symbols of protection, prosperity, and longevity.
Inside, more than 100 Chinese-character poems composed by Emperor Thieu Tri are engraved on beams and panels, turning the palace into a poetic gallery.
The motif “two dragons flanking a moon” (lưỡng long triều nguyệt) represents harmony and enlightened rule. Every detail—columns, light, and carvings—shows how architecture, art, and literature unite to express Vietnam’s royal spirit.
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Among the museum’s treasures, the “Golden Branch, Jade Leaves” stands out as a masterpiece of royal craftsmanship. This decorative piece is made from gold-plated wood, with petals carved from white jade and leaves from pale green jade. It symbolizes eternal prosperity and purity in royal aesthetics.
During the Nguyen Dynasty, this artifact adorned palace halls and imperial tombs, representing both luxury and spiritual harmony. It remains one of the most exquisite examples of Hue imperial art and royal ornaments preserved today.
The museum preserves over 100 original royal garments worn by emperors, queens, and mandarins of the Nguyen court. Each costume showcases the artistry of ancient Hue silk weaving and hand embroidery.
Colors and patterns on the garments indicated the wearer’s rank and ceremonial role—from the imperial dragon robes of the emperor to the elegant áo tấc (court dress) of the royal ladies. These textiles highlight Vietnam’s refined court fashion and cultural sophistication.
The collection includes more than 3,700 ceramic and porcelain artifacts dating from the Ly, Tran, and Nguyen dynasties. Among them, the famous “Bleu de Hué” pieces are especially valued for their blue enamel glaze, blending Chinese porcelain techniques with Vietnamese artistry.
Each item—bowls, vases, and decorative plates—reflects the cultural exchange and evolving taste of the imperial court. Together, they paint a vivid picture of daily life and royal rituals in Hue’s past.
This section features gold bars and ancient coins used during the Nguyen Dynasty. The highlight is the “Song Long” (Twin Dragons) coin, minted under Emperor Thieu Tri (1841–1847).
The intricate design of two dragons circling a sacred pearl demonstrates both artistic skill and symbolic meaning, representing wealth, balance, and prosperity in the imperial economy. These relics help visitors understand the financial system and artistry of Vietnam’s final royal dynasty.
The Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities is also home to four original Dau Ho game sets, a leisure activity enjoyed by Nguyen kings. Played by tossing darts into a jar’s mouth, this game required precision and patience.
It reveals the intellectual and cultural life of the royal court, where entertainment was a reflection of elegance and discipline. The Dau Ho sets displayed here are unique, with versions made from wood, enamel, and mother-of-pearl inlay.
The Champa collection contains over 80 artifacts excavated in Tra Kieu (1927) and collected from Chau O and Chau Ly. These include stone sculptures, bronze jewelry, and ritual objects created between the 7th and 13th centuries.
Each piece tells a story of ancient Southeast Asian heritage, displaying the artistry of the Champa civilization that once flourished in Central Vietnam. Researchers have praised this collection as a rare cultural legacy of the Far East, preserved with care at the museum.
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Visitors to the Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities can refer to the following details to plan their visit conveniently and enjoy a smooth experience.
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Visitor Tips
To make your visit enjoyable and respectful of the heritage site, please keep the following notes in mind:
The museum was established in 1923 under the royal decree of Emperor Khai Dinh and French Resident Superior Pierre Pasquier. It was originally known as Musée Khai Dinh and is among the earliest museums in Vietnam dedicated to imperial heritage.
The “Trung Thiem Diep Oc” design, meaning “double-roof duplex house,” features two overlapping roofs supported by 128 ironwood columns. This structure allows natural airflow and light while exposing finely carved wooden beams — a hallmark of Hue’s royal architectural craftsmanship.
The museum houses more than 9,000 artifacts arranged into about 20 themed collections. These include royal costumes, ceramics, jade ornaments, bronze items, coins, and official documents from the Nguyen Dynasty, representing centuries of cultural and artistic heritage.
Yes. The museum exhibits over 80 Champa artifacts discovered during archaeological excavations in Tra Kieu (1927), Chau O, and Chau Ly. The collection includes stone sculptures, bronze jewelry, and ritual objects, which showcase the art and spiritual culture of the ancient Champa civilization.
The Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities is more than a museum — it is a living chronicle of Vietnam’s imperial past, where art, poetry, and history converge. A visit here offers travelers a deep appreciation of Hue’s cultural essence and royal elegance. Plan your heritage journey with Vietpower Travel and continue exploring other remarkable Vietnam Tours that celebrate the nation’s enduring beauty and tradition
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