The Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities was founded on August 24, 1923, initially known as the Musée Khai Định (Khai Định Museum) – one of the first museums in Vietnam. This museum serves as the repository and exhibition space for ancient Hue artifacts, predominantly originating from the Nguyen dynasty's imperial court. Collections include porcelain artifacts, enamelware, royal attire, seals, printed materials, musical instruments used in ceremonies, decorative mirrors, elaborately crafted gilded wooden items, and inlaid items. Moreover, the museum showcases a unique and diverse collection of Cham sculptures. Long An Palace, the primary exhibition location, stands as one of Vietnam's most splendid court architecture pieces today and is recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site since 1993.
Over its 100 years of existence, the Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities currently manages over 9,000 artifacts, grouped into nearly 20 collections categorized based on factors such as type, material, function, historical value, cultural significance, and artistic merit. Notably, the following collections are of particular interest:
1. Porcelain of the Nguyen era (over 2,000 artifacts)
2. Vietnamese ceramics from the 14th to 19th centuries (nearly 200 artifacts)
3. Chinese ceramics from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties (almost 3,000 artifacts)
4. European ceramics from the 19th to 20th centuries (over 500 artifacts)
5. Nguyen-era wooden items (nearly 300 artifacts)
6. Nguyen-era bronze items (over 100 artifacts)
7. Hue enamelware (nearly 100 artifacts)
8. Royal attire from the Nguyen era (over 120 artifacts)
9. Nguyen-era seals, musical instruments, weapons, decorative mirrors
10. Cham artifacts (nearly 100 artifacts)
Several of these collections boast extensive, high-value historical, cultural, artistic, and economic significance, making them "one-of-a-kind" in Vietnam. Many artifacts have been recognized as Vietnamese national treasures.
The museum opens daily from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, making it an appealing destination for both domestic and international tourists.
