The important archaeological relic associated with Sa Huynh culture was first found in Thua Thien Hue in 1987 is Con Rang relic (La Chu, Huong Tra), showing that the owner of this culture has reached a high level in both material and spiritual life more than 2.500 years ago. The imprint of this culture is also found in Cua Thieng (Phu Oc, Tu Ha, Huong Tra) in 1988. Along with the Sa Huynh culture, scientists also found traces proving the presence of the Dong Son culture in Thua Thien Hue. Proof that the bronze drum type 1 was discovered in Phong My, Phong Dien in 1994. This is one of the unique relics of ancient Vietnamese culture.
According to ancient documents, thousands of years ago, Thua Thien Hue was once a residential area of communities with many different cultural nuances. Legend has it that at the time of the formation of Van Lang - An Lac State, Thua Thien Hue was a land of Viet Thuong ministry. At the beginning of the Northern domination period, this land belonged to Tuong District. In 116 BC, Nhat Nam district was born to replace the Tuong district. After the historic Bach Dang victory of Ngo Quyen 938), Dai Viet gained independence. Over the centuries of development, Thua Thien Hue has become a crossroads between the two major cultures of the East and the culture of the indigenous people. With the oracle "Hoanh Son Nhat Dai, Van Dai Dung Than" (Hoanh Son mountains, forever reigning), in 1558, Nguyen Hoang asked to protect Thuan Hoa land, starting the reigns of Nguyen lords.
Since then, the development process of the land Thuan Hoa - Phu Xuan is associated with the reigns of 9 Nguyen Lords in Dang Trong. After 3 centuries since merging with Dai Viet, Thuan Hoa was a battleground for power between Dang Trong and Dang Ngoai, with little time for peace, so there was no opportunity to form an urban-type population. The birth of Hoa Chau citadel (around the end of the 15th century, early 16th century) probably existed only for a short time as a defensive citadel, not the urban living place of Thuan Hoa land at that time. It was not until 1636, when Lord Nguyen Phu Lan moved to Kim Long, that the process of urbanization started, the premise for the formation and development of Hue city later. More than a century later, in 1687, Lord Nguyen Phuc Thai moved the main government to Thuy Loi village and changed its name to Phu Xuan (to the west of the current Hue citadel), continuing to build and develop Phu Xuan to become a thriving urban center of Dang Trong. Sometimes, the Lord's Palace moved to Bac Vong (1712-1723), but when Vo Vuong ascended the throne, he moved the main government to Phu Xuan and built it on the "left side of the old palace", that is, the southeast corner of the current Hue citadel.
The majestic magnificence of Phu Xuan citadel under Nguyen Phuc Khoat was described by Le Quy Don in the "Phu Bien Tap Luc" in 1776 and in the "Dai Nam Nhat Thong Chi" as a prosperous development city spanning the two banks of the Huong River Delta, from Kim Long - Duong Xuan to Bao Vinh - Thanh Ha, Phu Xuan was the capital of the land of Dang Trong (1687-1774), then became the capital of the unified Dai Viet country under King Quang Trung (1788-1801) and finally the capital of Vietnam for nearly 1,5 centuries under the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), Phu Xuan - Hue, Thua Thien Hue has become an important political, economic, cultural and artistic center of the country from those historical periods.
In 1858, the French-Spanish army opened fire on Da Nang, marking the process of invasion by the French, followed by American imperialism in Vietnam. Along with the whole country, the people of Thua Thien Hue have experienced two wars of resistance against foreign invaders to win peace, and independence; unify the Fatherland with many victories and heroic stories.
From the years of French colonialism to the day of complete reunification (1975) in Thua Thien Hue, there were continuous strong and fierce patriotic struggles. This land is the convergence of many revolutionaries striving to save the country. Phan Boi Chau, Phan Chu Trinh and many other patriots used to work here. Also in this place, the young Nguyen Sinh Cung (i.e. Nguyen Tat Thanh - President Ho Chi Minh) lived nearly 10 years of his adolescence before going South to find a way to save the country. In 1916, the Vietnam Quang Phuc Association organized a revolution on a scale of many provinces, King Duy Tan left the Imperial City to participate in the process. This place is the cradle of the strong movement, where talented people, outstanding leaders of the Party and State, and political, social and scientific activists such as Le Duan and Pham Van Dong, Vo Nguyen Giap, Tran Phu, Ha Huy Tap, Nguyen Chi Dieu, Phan Dang Luu, Hai Trieu, Nguyen Khanh Toan... are trained. In July 7/1929, the Communist Party of Indochina province Thua Thien Hue was established, then in early 1930, the Provincial Party Committee of Indochina Communist League was born. By April 4/1930, these two organizations united into the Communist Party of Vietnam in Thua Thien Hue province to lead the people to conduct the national liberation resistance. On August 23, 1945, with the spirit of the "August Revolution", the people of Thua Thien Hue rose up to overthrow the Nguyen dynasty. On August 30, 1945, the people here on behalf of the whole country witnessed the abdication ceremony of King Bao Dai, marking the end of the last feudal dynasty in Vietnamese history, opening a new era of development for the nation.
During the resistance war against the French colonialists, places like Duong Hoa, Hoa My... were the places that marked many glorious victories, resounding throughout the country. là nơi ghi dấu bao chiến công oanh liệt, vang dội khắp cả nước. During the 21 years of resistance against American imperialism, Thua Thien Hue was one of the first three flags of the people's war in the South, for the cause of national liberation. On March 26, 1975, Thua Thien Hue was completely liberated, making an important contribution to the liberation of the South, reunification of the Country, and the construction of socialism.
Overcoming difficulties after the war, Thua Thien Hue has constantly made efforts to catch up with the development pace of the whole country. The lessons of success and limitations have all crystallized into the willpower and preparation for Thua Thien Hue to enter the era of innovation with all faith and determination to build a more dignified, beautiful and worthy homeland. With the merits of our ancestors, who have worked hard to build a heroic but also very delicate land with cultural features imbued with national identity and a relic complex recognized as a cultural heritage of mankind.