A corner of Phung Tien palace. (Source: laodong.vn)
Coordinating on the project together, the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre (HMCC) and Germany’s Society for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage, Fulda (GEKE) organised a session on January 7 to hand over the final outcomes.
Accordingly, the project cost a total of nearly 4.3 billion VND (168.614 EUR), of which over 3.4 billion VND (135,873 EUR) was sponsored by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Embassy of Germany in Vietnam, with the rest from Vietnam’s corresponding fund.
The restoration work ran under two phases between September 29, 2017 and December 31, 2018. It employed the fresco-secco technique of painting on dry plaster with pigments mixed in water. The technique helped the project win two third-place prizes at the provincial and national science and technology innovation awards last year.
Along with restoration work, the project also focused on offering advanced technical training to local craftsmen, painters, architects, and engineers, including those from the HCMC.
Constructed under the reign of King Minh Mang in the 19th century, Phung Tien was among the Nguyen dynasty’s five most important palaces. It was used to worship the Nguyen Dynasty kings and their wives. The majority of the palace has gone to ruin over time, apart from the remaining foundation, gates, and some stonework.
