Nguyen Dynasty throne vandalized at Hue’s Thai Hoa Palace
A man vandalized the Nguyen Dynasty throne inside Thai Hoa Palace, part of the Hue Imperial City, shattering parts of the historic national treasure.
According to witnesses, the man bypassed the protective barrier and climbed onto the throne in the main hall on Saturday noon. He shouted and cursed loudly before damaging the structure.
It took a while for security to find out, as they quickly intervened and restrained the man. The incident was captured on video by visitors and posted on social media.
Hoang Viet Trung, Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center, confirmed the damage, stating that the throne, a national treasure, had been damaged. He added that the man showed signs of being on drugs at the time of the incident.
« The police have examined the scene and launched an investigation. We are assessing the extent of the damage and will release further details soon, » Trung said.
The throne, located in Thai Hoa Palace, is a one-of-a-kind artifact with rich historical and cultural value. It stands 101 cm tall, 72 cm wide and 87 cm long, with a base measuring 118 cm in length, 90 cm in width and 20 cm in height. The throne is made entirely of wood, painted red and gilded in gold, with a magnificent canopy above.
In January 2016, the throne was officially recognized as a national treasure of Vietnam.
By Vo Thanh – VnExpress.net – May 25, 2025