Contributing to shaping the urban appearance of Hue
While the northern bank of the Huong River is home to ancient imperial buildings with a weathered charm, the southern bank is graced by surviving French architectural works that accentuate and embellish the urban landscape of Hue.
Hue has hundreds of French architectural buildings, but for various reasons, some have been deteriorated, and others have been demolished to make way for new constructions. Notable examples of French-style architecture include: the Hospital (Hue Central Hospital), Le Grand Hotel de Hue (Saigon Morin Hotel), the Public Works Office (now the Center for Culture, Information and Sports of Thuan Hoa District), the Railway Station, Quoc Hoc High School, Dong Khanh High School (now Hai Ba Trung High School), the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, Pellerin School (now Hue Institute of Music), the War Memorial, the Annamite Council Building (now Hue University), and Thien Huu High School (now the University of Sciences, Hue University)...
The existence of these French architectural works is considered highly valuable. According to Dr. Tran Van Dung from the Department of Culture and Sports of Hue City, these buildings initially showcased Western architectural artistry and were built to serve the French colonial administration as a way to assert dominance and maintain control over the colonized population. Later, houses and villas in Western styles began appearing, adapted to local climate conditions and the traditions of the Hue region.
Compared to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Hue is not inferior in terms of architectural diversity, differing only in the level of sophistication and artistic decoration. Dr. Dung classifies three main types of colonial architecture in Hue: public buildings, villas, and townhouses. These styles contribute to a new character in Hue’s heritage urban space, providing a harmonious transition from traditional to modern architecture and serving as important evidence of Hue's urban development history.
Researchers Phan Thuan An and Nguyen Quoc Thong, in their article “French Architecture on the Banks of the Huong River”, remarked: “Alongside the use of durable building materials and imported construction techniques, such as glass windows, shutters, panels, ornamental railings, and base moldings, we also clearly see traditional Vietnamese architectural styles in the decorative motifs along roof edges and partition walls. Occasionally, the blending of styles is evident even in decorative columns: the base and shaft are designed in Western styles, while the capitals reflect traditional Vietnamese styles.”
Tapping into tourism development
In addition to conservation, many passionate voices have emphasized the need to harness these architectural works for sustainable tourism development.
Dr. Tran Van Dung noted that many cities around the world have leveraged heritage sites for tourism, as they offer tremendous economic potential. Therefore, incorporating colonial architectural heritage into tourism development strategies would help highlight Hue’s unique features and generate income for those managing and preserving these structures. This approach would also encourage better conservation and promotion of the architectural heritage, while giving Hue new and distinctive tourism offerings.
Recently, the French architectural building at 23–25 Le Loi Street, now housing the Center for Culture, Information, and Sports of Thuan Hoa District, has been effectively repurposed as the Hue Book and Culture Space. “Efforts like these breathe life into the buildings. Not only are they preserved, but they are also promoted and made attractive to visitors,” shared Nguyen Hoai (Thuan Hoa District), a frequent visitor to the space.
However, any tourism development project faces difficulties in implementation without careful planning and enthusiastic community support. Therefore, local authorities need to establish policies and programs that disseminate detailed and timely information about heritage tourism development projects to residents. This would enhance community understanding, support, and feedback for planning and implementing sustainable tourism initiatives.