The main entrance to the Thai Hoa Palace. (Photo courtesy of the Huế Monuments Conservation Centre)

The palace, the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors, is one of the most outstanding ancient buildings in the former royal city.

It preserves a significant number of ancient poems, presented in unique decorative paintings. Each poem is carved into wooden panels and is accompanied by a matching painting. These distinctive decorations are listed as part of the documentary heritage of Asia and the Pacific, under the UNESCO's Memory of the World Documentary Heritage programme.

The palace was built in 1805 by King Gia Long and was rebuilt in 1833 by King Minh Mang. 

The renovation project is expected to be completed by 2025.