Hue Royal Antiquities Museum

Founded in 1923 under the original name Musée Khải Định, this is one of Vietnam’s oldest museums. Having undergone several renamings over the years, it was finally named the Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities in 1995, maintaining its purpose of preserving the heritage and distinct history of the Nguyen Dynasty's royal culture.

The museum features an extensive collection of royal porcelains, enamelware, costumes, imperial seals, musical instruments, lacquered wood, and mirror paintings. Additionally, it displays ancient cannons, intricate Champa sculptures, and valuable cultural artifacts from the Nguyen Dynasty. Notably, the collection of blue-glazed porcelain, known as “Bleu de Hue,” highlights the delicate beauty of traditional Vietnamese craftsmanship.

The Long An Palace, the museum’s main exhibition hall, is an exquisite wooden structure in the double-eaved, overlapping roofs style, built during Emperor Thieu Tri’s reign (1845). With 128 pillars and intricate carvings, it exemplifies the sophistication and uniqueness of royal Vietnamese architecture. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1993, Long An Palace displays over 300 artifacts made of gold, ceramics, enamelware, royal attire, and royal items, offering visitors a rich historical journey and a deeply personal experience of Hue’s history.

The Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities, through its preservation of priceless artifacts, is not only a prime destination for history and art enthusiasts but also an immersive space where travelers can explore at their own pace and gain a unique insight into Vietnam’s royal past.