The Fall of a Dynasty: A Throne’s Demise

The Thai Hoa Palace, home to the throne, is a popular attraction within the Imperial City of Hue. Photo by Vo Thanh

“I was excited to visit the Imperial City and witness the throne, a symbol of power of a dynasty, up close. It’s a pity that the artifact has been damaged,” said Toan.

On the afternoon of May 25th, a large number of visitors came to see the Thai Hoa Palace, with many gathering in the central area where the throne was located – the throne of the Nguyen Dynasty – after learning of the news that it had been vandalized.

James Morgan, a British tourist visiting the ancient capital for the first time, expressed his surprise and disappointment upon hearing the news of the damaged imperial throne. He found it hard to believe that such a valuable artifact was not strictly guarded.

On social media platforms, most comments condemned the act of vandalism. Many suggested installing additional surveillance cameras, increasing the number of tour guides, and tightening penalty regulations.

One user, Hoang Cuong, commented: “Why weren’t such precious treasures strictly managed to prevent this incident? Although it can be restored, its original value has been lost.”

“The management should be held more accountable for failing to prevent this. It is unacceptable that a national treasure in such a revered place could be tampered with without any intervention from the guards,” shared Hung Le, sharing a similar sentiment.

Trung Kien, a local tour guide with over a decade of experience in the Hue relics, shared that he had introduced the value of the Nguyen Dynasty throne and its historical significance to many tourists.

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard the news of the damage,” Kien expressed his disbelief.

The man who sat on the throne and broke its armrest on May 24th. Photo taken from the video

The throne in the Thai Hoa Palace was recognized as a national treasure in 2015. This valuable artifact, witnessing the coronation of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors, is made of wood and consists of two parts: the body and the base, with a canopy above. It measures 87 cm in length, 72 cm in width, 101 cm in height, and weighs about 60 kg. This original artifact was placed in the center of the palace.

According to the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum, after being vandalized and damaged, the throne has been moved to the museum’s storage facility for safekeeping. A replica will temporarily take its place and be displayed in the Thai Hoa Palace for visitors.

The throne on display in the Thai Hoa Palace before the vandalism. Photo by Vo Thanh

To prevent similar incidents, the Center will develop a plan to ensure tighter security within the heritage area, especially for national treasures. This includes increasing security equipment, providing additional tools, training security personnel, and enhancing their capabilities to detect and handle unusual situations.

Additionally, the Center will establish a specialist council to assess the current state of the throne and develop a conservation plan. They will also propose a solution to increase personnel and resources to ensure the safety of all exhibited artifacts within the complex.

On the afternoon of May 25th, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh demanded accountability and the punishment of individuals and organizations responsible for the damage to the national treasure, the throne of the Nguyen Dynasty, to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.