New renovations cannot have an antique look.

VHO - After nearly two months of emergency restoration work, the section of the Hue Imperial Citadel wall that collapsed due to heavy rain and flooding (November 2025) is almost complete and is expected to be inspected and approved in June.

A section of the Hue Imperial Citadel wall has recently undergone emergency repairs and is in the process of being completed.

According to observations by a Culture reporter at the site, the construction unit is currently implementing a painting solution for a section of wall over 21 meters long. Previously, during the project's implementation, many opinions suggested that this section of wall was "too new" compared to the existing wall system of the Hue Imperial Citadel.

Speaking with a reporter from Van Hoa newspaper , Mr. Hoang Viet Trung, Director of the Hue Imperial Citadel Conservation Center, affirmed that the emergency restoration of the section of the Hue Imperial Citadel wall ensures compliance with the procedures and regulations of the Law on Cultural Heritage. The documentation was meticulously prepared, with input from the Department of Culture and Sports, the Department of Construction, and approval from the Hue City People's Committee.

Some opinions suggest that the newly constructed section of the wall is "too new" because the project had not yet finalized the coloring solution at that time. Mr. Hoang Viet Trung also stated that a newly restored section of wall cannot have the same ancient colors and mossy appearance as the Imperial Citadel walls built 200 years ago. The issue is to implement a suitable color solution to achieve overall consistency. Recently, the Hue Imperial Citadel Conservation Center organized a consultation with experts in the Center's Scientific Task Advisory Council regarding the color scheme for the section of the wall that was urgently restored.

According to Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Hai Trung, Deputy Director of the Center, the original walls of the Imperial Citadel were yellow, but to be compatible and harmonious with the current wall system, the unit unanimously chose a gray color for the section of wall that was urgently restored.

Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Hai Trung also affirmed: The current color scheme is only temporary. The center is developing a plan to implement a comprehensive restoration project for the Hue Imperial Citadel wall system. The recently restored section of the wall will be a pilot project for research and further consultation with experts in the Scientific Council to find solutions for the upcoming project.

According to the decision approved by the Hue City People's Committee, the project has a total investment of nearly 1.9 billion VND, of which construction costs are over 1.25 billion VND, and is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2026. To date, the main items such as the construction of the city wall, the wall cap, and the finishing plastering have been completed. The restoration process prioritizes the application of traditional construction methods and ensures compliance with the approved scale and design solutions: dismantling the old brick walls; removing the foundation layer of laterite stone and broken bricks; excavating the foundation, pouring a reinforced concrete slab M250 with a thickness of 200mm; building the foundation with recycled old bricks and laterite stone; building the city wall with recycled old bricks (accounting for 50%) and new old bricks; and plastering the city wall with a three-component mortar. The total value of completed construction is estimated at approximately 1.2 billion VND.

Notably, the section of wall that collapsed due to the 2025 floods was 14.2m long and approximately 4.3m high. During the remediation process, the wall section was dismantled to a stable location with a total length of 21.3m, an increase of 7.1m compared to the initial collapse area. Currently, the construction unit is carrying out the finishing work to create a uniform appearance with the surrounding original wall sections. After completion, the project will undergo technical acceptance and be put into use in accordance with regulations.

Mr. Phung Van Hoang, Director of the Hue Imperial Citadel Relics Project Management Board, said that to ensure consistency with the existing wall sections that have deteriorated over time due to external factors and harsh climatic conditions, the specialized unit has researched and selected the most similar finishing plaster layer. After completion, they will coordinate with relevant agencies to conduct technical acceptance and handover for use in accordance with regulations around the beginning of June 2026. After the project is completed and put into use, the investor is responsible for submitting the project log and completion documents to the Hue City Department of Culture and Sports within 60 days to serve the management of the relics and report to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as prescribed.

Previously, at approximately 6:45 PM on November 2, 2025, due to the impact of prolonged heavy rain and flooding, a section of the Hue Imperial Citadel wall on the north side (adjacent to Dang Thai Than Street and about 180 meters east of Hoa Binh Gate) collapsed. The Imperial Citadel (including the wall system), part of the Hue Imperial City complex, was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1993.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/tu-bo-moi-khong-the-co-mau-sac-co-xua-232473.html