Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities

The Hue Museum of Royal Antiquities is a history museum housed in Long An Palace within the Hue Imperial City in Hue, Vietnam. Established in 1923 as the Musée Khai Dinh, it is the earliest museum in Hue. It preserves and displays over 10,000 artifacts of the Nguyen Dynasty, including royal costumes, ceramics, furniture, and court objects, notable for its imperial architecture and cultural heritage value.

Visitors can expect to explore the historic Long An Palace, a well-preserved wooden imperial palace with traditional Nguyen architecture, set within the grounds of the Hue Imperial City. Inside, galleries display royal antiquities including bronze wares, porcelain, imperial clothing, jewelry, seals, musical instruments and everyday court objects. The setting is quiet and educational, with curated exhibits explaining Nguyen dynasty court life, surrounded by gardens and close to other citadel monuments.

Founded on 17 August 1923 as Musée Khai Dinh under Emperor Khai Dinh with support of French colonial authorities, it is the first museum in Hue. It was housed in Long An Palace, constructed in 1845 under Emperor Thieu Tri as a royal residence and later relocated to its current site inside the Imperial City in 1909. The museum preserves artifacts from the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), Vietnam's last feudal dynasty.

The museum preserves and showcases the material culture of the Nguyen court, including royal regalia, ceremonial objects, ceramics, and artworks that reflect Vietnamese imperial traditions, craftsmanship, and court rituals. It serves as a key institution for understanding Hue's heritage as the former imperial capital and is part of the Complex of Hue Monuments.