Hue City leaders inform about the breaking of the throne at Thai Hoa Palace

Video of Thai Hoa Palace security guards arresting the person who caused the disturbance and broke the Nguyen Dynasty throne

Camera recorded the incident

According to Mr. Tran Huu Thuy Giang, at 11:55 a.m. on May 24, Ho Van Phuong Tam (born in 1983, permanent resident of group 7, area 4, Huong Long ward, Phu Xuan district, Hue city) bought an entrance ticket to Hue Imperial City.

Through camera extraction and initial investigation by the authorities, at the time of the incident, there were two security guards in the Thai Hoa Palace area.

The throne at Thai Hoa Palace before it was broken.

When entering Thai Hoa Palace, Tam showed unusual behavior, so a security guard invited him to go to the back of the palace. However, he later returned, sneaked into the area displaying the Nguyen Dynasty throne, shouted, and then broke the front left armrest of the throne.

"To prevent Tam from acting rashly and destroying other exhibits, security guards approached from a distance, reminded him to go outside, and called to request additional support. At 12:10 p.m. on May 24, the security guards restrained Tam and reported to Dong Ba Ward Police to make a record of his arrest," said Mr. Giang.

Dong Ba Ward Police have made a record of the arrest of Tam, a suspect in the act. However, they have not been able to record his statement because he is showing signs of psychosis, screaming, talking nonsense, and cannot answer the investigator's questions.

Subject Ho Van Phuong Tam

Object background

According to the report of Huong Long Ward Police, Ho Van Phuong Tam was born in Huong Long Ward, Phu Xuan District, Hue City.

In 1990, Tam followed his family to live in Ho Chi Minh City. Here, Tam did not live with his family but rented a separate room, frequently changing his place of residence.

Around mid-May 2025, Tam returned to Hue and asked to live at a relative's house in lane 28, Nguyen Phuc Nguyen street, Huong Long ward, but was chased away and had to live a vagrant life.

On July 18, 2023, Tam was ordered by the People's Court of Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, to issue Decision No. 108/2023/QD-TA to apply administrative measures to send him to a compulsory drug rehabilitation facility.

Currently, the Hue City Police Investigation Agency is conducting a psychiatric assessment of Tam and coordinating with the Phu Xuan District People's Procuracy to collect evidence and documents to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the relevant parties in order to resolve the case in accordance with the law.

Subject Tam, image cut from clip

Strengthening security measures in heritage areas

Mr. Tran Huu Thuy Giang said that regarding the Nguyen Dynasty King's throne, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center will invite experts and artisans to evaluate and develop a suitable restoration plan; at the same time, there will be a plan to increase forces and means to ensure the safety of the system of displayed artifacts.

Currently, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center has directed the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum to bring the Nguyen Dynasty throne to the antiques warehouse for storage and preservation. At the same time, the restored throne will be displayed at Thai Hoa Palace to serve tourists.

This is an extremely rare incident, although in recent times the Hue Monuments Conservation Center has had many solutions to ensure security in the heritage site such as increasing the installation of surveillance cameras, developing regulations for assigning security guards, and having mobile units regularly inspect the relic sites...

- Mr. Giang said.

To prevent similar incidents, in the coming time, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center will develop a plan to ensure strict security and safety in the heritage site in general and for artifacts, antiquities... especially national treasures, focusing on solutions: strengthening security equipment, support tools; strengthening protection work, training in handling security situations, early detection and prevention of suspicious phenomena...

Thai Hoa Palace

VAN THANG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/lanh-dao-tp-hue-thong-tin-vu-be-gay-ngai-vang-o-dien-thai-hoa-post796695.html