Seriously implement the direction
The dismantling started on March 3rd, carried out in 5 days using manual methods to minimize impact on the landscape and surrounding relic items.
This is a wooden stilt house with an area of about 35m2, 6m high, consisting of 16 wooden columns, tiled roof, built on the foundation of the platform in front of Empress Dowager Tu Du's tomb - an area belonging to the core protection area of the relic. This project is not in the design dossier, not appraised and approved in restoration projects related to the relic of King Thieu Tri's tomb. Therefore, immediately after the press and public opinion reflected, functional agencies conducted inspection, verification and requested handling in accordance with legal regulations.
Previously, as Lao Dong newspaper reported: Hue City People's Committee has agreed to temporarily maintain the current status of the project during the Binh Ngo Lunar New Year 2026 to serve the worshiping needs of people and tourists. However, after the 15th day of the first lunar month of Binh Ngo year (ie after March 3, 2026), the Hue Ancient Citadel Relic Preservation Center was forced to dismantle the entire project and restore the relic site to its original state.
Heritage management lesson
The Mausoleum Complex of King Thieu Tri is an important component of the Hue Ancient Capital Relic Complex - a World Cultural Heritage recognized by UNESCO. This is also a special national relic, so all activities of restoration, embellishment or new construction in this area must strictly comply with the provisions of the Law on Cultural Heritage as well as international conventions to which Vietnam is a signatory.
In this case, the appearance of a wooden stilt house and wooden Tam Quan gate in the area of King Thieu Tri's tomb but not in the approved design documents has shown certain loopholes in the management and supervision process. The matter becomes even more sensitive when Hue is a world heritage site, where any changes in landscape, architecture or spatial structure can affect the authenticity and integrity of the heritage - core criteria in the UNESCO-recognized heritage dossier. However, the subsequent handling of the local government also shows a positive signal. That is the listening to public opinion and the spirit of respecting the law in heritage management of the local government.
More importantly, this case reiterates a basic principle in heritage conservation that all interventions in relics, whether for good or small-scale purposes, must be carefully considered on a scientific, legal and professional consultation basis. Hue has been assessed by UNESCO as a successful example in heritage conservation, when transitioning from the emergency relief phase to stability and sustainable development. Therefore, maintaining heritage management discipline, avoiding arbitrary decisions or lack of scientific basis is particularly important.
From the "strange structure" in front of Empress Dowager Tu Du's tomb, Hue draws a lesson: heritage preservation is not only about restoring the structure but also preserving the historical space and strictly complying with management regulations. Only when these principles are respected can the heritage be preserved in the true sense for today and future generations.
