Architecture of Dien Tho Residence

Dien Tho Residence comprises about 20 buildings within a protective wall surrounding a rectangular piece of land (dimension: 150m x 100m). It lies in the northwestern part of the Hue’s Imperial City, between Truong Sanh Residence and Phung Tien Palace/Temple where emperors of Nguyen dynasty were worshipped (same to The Mieu Temple, but here women could join ceremonies, burnt in 1947). It has four entrances, with the east entrance leading to the Forbidden Purple City/Can Thanh Palace where kings live, by a covered walkway, and the south entrance as the main entrance. Visitors often visit Dien Tho Residence via the east gate, because of convenience.

The main building of the Palace is ‘Dien Tho Palace’. In its front, there is a protective screen that is largest in Hue. Because the king often visits it to see his mother and grandmother, this hall is covered by a yellow tile roof (the one only for king’s places in the dynasty). On its top, there are phoenixes, symbolizing queens and other wifes of the king as well as the power of the royal family.

Dien Tho Palace has 7 compartments, and two large rooms. After restoration by request of Khai Dinh king who had influences from the west, its floor was paved by imported tiles, glass was installed for its windows and doors, and glass lamps were added. After wars, lots of things in this building have been lost, but today visitors can see tables & chairs used in queen’s meals or greeting guests, wooden beds, a full set of imperial gown which queens would wear in important events, entertaining game dau ho, personal belongings, etc. On the way to the café, it’s possible to see a souvenir and beverage shop.

Next to it, there is Ta Tra House or ‘Left House’ where people wait to see Nguyen empresses and grandempresses. Firstly, it’s built of brick and wood, comprising three compartments, and in 1927, it’s built with cement. In 1968, this place was heavily damaged by bombings and fire. In 2013 and 2014, it’s restored completely with a total cost of 11,1 billions dong. Now, visitors can see many antique things here, including the carriage of Bao Dai king’s wife, wooden bed, tables & chairs, and especially, the rickshaw of Thanh Thai king’s mother. It’s collected after an auction in France in June 2014, with a price of 55,800 EUR or approx 1,5 billions dong. It became one of the first Vietnamese antiquities ‘returning home’ by that way.

In 1927, Bao Dai king (13rd/last Nguyen emperor) constructed a new villa for his mother Hoang Thi Cuc (1890-1980) due to her severe rheumatism. The main Dien Tho was too humid. This villa has two storeys, following a French style, and named ‘Tinh Minh Pavilion’. Previously, there was a theatre that existed here (one of the oldest theatres in Hue). Now, its ground floor is used to exhibit photos and objects about Bao Dai king, his wife Nam Phuong queen and their children. To know further, we recommend you visit An Dinh Palace where they lived before going to the Imperial City. In 1950, after his abdication (1945), the villa served as a temporary living house for Bao Dai king who was appointed to be ‘supreme advisor’ for the new government led by Ho Chi Minh president.

Behind Dien Tho Residence, there is Tho Ninh Palace. It’s smaller than the main hall because it serves for other wifes of the king (who are not king’s biological mother). It had 7 compartments by 1930, and after that, it’s restored and just has 3 compartments like today. Here, visitors can see some calabash trees (cay dao tien, Crescentia cujete) which have exotic ball-like fruits.

One of the most interesting buildings in Dien Tho Residence is Ta Truong Du Pavilion. It’s built in 1849, on a rectangular lake embellished by a mini limestone mountain with small trees, lotus & water lily flowers, and golden fishes. This pavilion has a ‘house’, now becoming a small café, and a covered structure. Here, visitors can take a break, enjoy a cold drink, feed fishes, and enjoy a sense of tranquility. On the way to the café, visitors can see paintings portraying famous pagodas and royal tombs in Hue, such as Thien Mu Pagoda, Khai Dinh Tomb, Minh Mang Tomb.

Dien Tho Residence also has a temple named ‘Am Phuoc Tho’ (literally ‘Shrine of the Blessing and Longevity’) or Khuong Ninh Cac. It has two levels, with the ground floor used to worship three goddesses in Vietnamese folk belief. Upstairs, people worship buddhas, Quan Cong (a military general in ancient times), and other figures. Empresses came here to pray and chant everyday in the past, while kings don’t follow religions. Sometimes, they went to Thien Mu Pagoda, a national Buddhist temple of Hue. To visit the upper floor, visitors need to take their shoes off.

In gardens of the Dien Tho Residence have many fruit trees, such as stairfruit, jackfruit, tamarind, pomelo, lychee, mango, water apple, and yew plum pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus) which symbolizes long life or external life.