The restoration of Long Duc, Long An and Voi Re palaces, Minh Mang, Tu Duc, Dong Khanh, Thieu Tri and Ho Quyen royal tombs, Thai Binh Lau (palace), Gia Long stele house and Hiem Duc Mon (gate) costs hundreds of billion of VND.

The centre previously spent US$1.62 million restoring Thien Mu pagoda, one of the citadel’s most attractive features.

Some of the funding was granted by international organisations including Monotsukuri University and Waseda Heritage Institute of Japan who donated US$1.2 million to upgrade the Long Duc palace. Germany’s Leibniz Association outlaid EUR355,000 for the restoration of wall paintings in An Dinh palace.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) also granted close to US$155,000 to support the first training project on Hue royal music.

Hue Monuments Conservation Centre Director Phung Phu said with these efforts, the Hue imperial citadel will be well preserved to show its breathtaking beauty. The historical site brings in around US$2.8 million in tourism revenues each year.