Thuong Bac Communal House - memories of the Nguyen Dynasty receiving international envoys

Since the beginning of the 19th century, King Gia Long established the Cong Quan, which was responsible for diplomatic and foreign trade communications with missions and ambassadors from foreign countries.

Initially, the headquarters was located in the Citadel. In 1875, the Consulate was moved outside the city, near Thuong Tu Gate, and named Thuong Bac Vien. Foreign delegations coming to Hue would stay temporarily on the other side of the river and take a boat across the river to discuss transactions with the royal court at Thuong Bac Vien.

Sketch by Architect Bui Hoang Bao

After the Giáp Thân Treaty in 1884 (signed on a boat in the middle of the Hương River, in front of Thương Bạc Wharf), the Nguyễn Dynasty accepted the French protectorate. At this time, Thương Bạc Academy no longer had any role because the French side also took over diplomatic affairs. In 1885, the capital fell, and Thương Bạc Academy was also burned down.

Sketch by Architect Linh Hoang

According to National Archives Center 1, in 1936, King Bao Dai built Thuong Bac communal house (current location: Tran Hung Dao street, outside Thuong Tu gate) to commemorate the historical vestiges of Thuong Bac institute.

Sketch by Architect Phung The Huy

Sketch by Architect Tran Xuan Hong

Thuong Bac Communal House was built by famous craftsmen in Hue. Located on a square foundation 1.3 m high, with no walls on all four sides, the communal house was built in the style of an ancient tower, with decorations of a tiger holding a longevity character inlaid with porcelain inside. The lower floor is octagonal, the upper floor is smaller and square (with the Chinese characters "Thuong Bac" inlaid with blue porcelain on the four sides). The communal house has two roofs, covered with glazed tiles (similar to the tiled roofs of Ngu Phung - Ngo Mon tower). The top of the roof is decorated with two dragons facing the sun. In front of Thuong Bac Communal House is a large yard, with a three-door gate built with four large pillars, with parallel sentences in Chinese characters inlaid with porcelain, and a lotus flower on top.

Sketch by artist Tran Binh Minh

View from the Perfume River - sketch by artist Tran Binh Minh

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dinh-thuong-bac-hoi-uc-trieu-nguyen-tiep-su-than-quoc-te-185250517204009558.htm