Mr. Hoang Viet Trung, Director of the Hue Imperial City Relics Conservation Center, received a valuable set of books by King Ham Nghi, donated by Dr. Amandine Dabat.

These artifacts embody the "spirit of the homeland."

At the book launch of "Ham Nghi - The Exiled Emperor, the Artist in Algiers" in Hue City, precious artifacts of King Ham Nghi were donated by their owner to the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum.

Dr. Amandine Dabat, a fifth-generation descendant of King Hàm Nghi, and her family donated artifacts related to the king's life. Among them is a mother-of-pearl inlaid wooden tray brought from Vietnam, which she always keeps as a memento of her homeland, and a set of Chinese books including the Imperial Decree on Official Positions (2 volumes), the Dan Do District Chronicle (26 volumes), and the Tang Dinh Thi Kinh The Chi Dien Nghia (5 volumes). According to Dr. Amandine Dabat, these precious mementos were carefully preserved by Princess Như Mai, King Hàm Nghi's eldest daughter, in remembrance of her father.

In addition, the "Ivory seahorse chopsticks" given by Empress Dowager Tu Du to Mrs. Phan Thi Hoa for use during the Emperor's meals (during the Can Vuong movement, 1885-1889), and the "Porcelain teapots," belonging to the family of Emperor Ham Nghi, were also donated to the museum by his descendants on this occasion. These artifacts not only possess cultural and historical value but are also precious pieces in the journey of understanding a king with a rich inner life – an exiled emperor with a longing and nostalgia for his homeland, with a Vietnamese soul and culture.

Director of the Hue Museum of Historical and Cultural Relics, Ngo Van Minh, expressed: “These are priceless gifts, demonstrating the respect of the family and descendants of King Ham Nghi for returning his relics; at the same time, they enrich the exhibition space “King Ham Nghi - Life and Art” at the Museum.”

The shirt and its historical story.

The Nhật Bình dress – the ceremonial attire of Empress Nam Phương – was purchased and donated to the Hue Imperial Citadel Conservation Center by the family of Ms. Phan Thúy Khanh and her son, Trần Phan Anh, both natives of Hue currently living in Hanoi .

"A treasure embodying the cultural soul of the Nguyen Dynasty," this ceremonial garment was presented at the ceremony recognizing the "Relief Castings on Nine Bronze Tripods in the Hue Imperial Palace" as a UNESCO Documentary Heritage. This garment was once part of the collection of Linda Wrigglesworth, a world- renowned expert on ancient costumes. The garment is not merely a valuable artifact, but also a bridge to a historical figure of wisdom and virtue – Empress Nam Phuong, the last woman to hold the title of Empress of the Nguyen Dynasty and of Vietnam.

According to the donor, the dress was used and carefully preserved by the queen during the time she and her children lived far from their homeland in France, as if it held a part of the Vietnamese soul, a sacred memory of the nation.

Those who had the opportunity to admire the Nhật Bình ceremonial robe, proudly displayed in front of the Thái Hòa Palace that day, were likely moved and stirred, as if they were "touching" the golden memories of a dynasty. Every embroidery stitch and pattern on the robe depicted a historical story, imbued with immense love and dedication. "This gift is not just an artifact, but also a bridge connecting the younger generation to the history of our nation," shared a representative of the donor.

According to Hoang Viet Trung, Director of the Hue Center for Conservation of Cultural Heritage, "The Nhat Binh dress of Empress Nam Phuong provides the Center with additional artifacts and information on the history and culture of the Nguyen Dynasty, serving research, education, and meeting the needs of tourists for viewing."

To be continued in the future.

The journey of acquiring and donating the dress of Empress Nam Phuong is a commendable one, but Mr. Tran Phan Anh's family chose to humbly describe it: "Contributing a small part to preserving historical and cultural values ​​is a great fortune for me." This simplicity in their words further highlights the family's noble heart towards the heritage of the ancient capital: Donating not for fame, but out of a responsibility to preserve timeless values.

The story of the Nhật Bình dress is not an isolated case. In the past, Hue has received many valuable artifacts, antiques, and documents thanks to the generosity of philanthropists both domestically and internationally.

Researcher and antique collector Tran Dinh Son once donated precious artifacts from the Nguyen Dynasty. Jean Dabat donated the painting "Lake in the Alps" created by King Ham Nghi in France to the museum. Antique collectors Nguyen Huu Hoang, Mai Ba Thien, Pham Hy Tung, Doan Phuoc Thuan, and others have donated valuable artifacts to the Hue Imperial Antiquities Museum. Deep within each donation lies the desire to contribute to "returning" cultural values ​​to their homeland.

Another example is the story of the high-ranking official's hat and the concubine's robe from the Nguyen Dynasty, which Sunshine Group successfully auctioned abroad and brought back to Hue, donating them to the ancient capital with the wish to "give them to Hue for preservation and conservation, so that future generations of Vietnamese can admire and be proud of their history." As the Sunshine Group leader stated during the donation, "each returned artifact not only enriches the national heritage but also 'illuminates' national pride."

According to Mr. Hoang Viet Trung, over its 143 years of existence, the Nguyen Dynasty left behind an incredibly rich cultural heritage for posterity, but wars and historical upheavals caused many precious artifacts to be lost. The willingness of individuals and organizations to search for, preserve, and "repatriate" these artifacts is a commendable act.

“Donating heritage is not simply about returning an artifact to where it belongs, but also a way for each individual to demonstrate patriotism and responsibility in preserving culture, responsibility to the past and future of the nation,” Mr. Trung said. It reminds every Vietnamese citizen of the value of preserving and promoting heritage, so that the stories of yesterday can continue to be told for tomorrow.

League