An Dinh Palace Origin
The origin of the An Định Palace's establishment
An Định Palace was originally built and renovated on the expanded old site of An Định Residence – a residence bestowed upon Prince Nguyễn Phước Bửu Đảo by the court in 1902. It was customary in the Nguyễn Dynasty for princes and princesses to be granted their own residences upon marriage, which led to hundreds of large and small residences flourishing in the imperial city of Huế.
The former An Định Residence was not very large in scale, built in the traditional Huế style with a beam-framed house, a screen, a rockery, and a garden. In 1916, Prince Bửu Đảo ascended the throne, taking the reign title Khải Định, and the following year, to commemorate his place of origin, the king used his private funds to purchase more land, expanding the area to over 23,400 square meters and building An Định Palace in a new architectural style. After two years of meticulous construction, a magnificent and imposing palace was completed.
A place where generations of kings lived
This place is associated with many of the last Nguyễn Dynasty emperors, such as Emperor Khải Định, Emperor Bảo Đại, and Empress Nam Phương. An Định Palace in Huế is remembered as the place where Emperor Khải Định lived from his time as a crown prince until he became Emperor. Later, it was inherited by Bảo Đại, who resided here with Empress Nam Phương and their children after his abdication.
A little-known fact
Behind Khải Tường Pavilion once stood a very special structure: the Cửu Tư Đài Theater, spanning 1,150 square meters with two floors and a capacity of 500 people. This was where tuồng and Hue's Orchesta performances were held for the royal family during the reign of Emperor Bảo Đại. The stage was located in the center of the first floor, with seating designed on both floors around the stage. The royal box was on the second floor, reserved for the emperor, royal family members, high-ranking officials, and distinguished guests. The theater's architecture was inspired by the Hanoi Opera House, but its interior resembled Khải Định's tomb with its decorative raised designs using the art of ceramic and porcelain inlay. Unfortunately, the theater was destroyed in 1947, leaving only its foundation as the large lawn behind Khải Tường Pavilion as it is today (The Last Picture below).
