Publications
Building typologies and architectural pattern transformations of the Hue Imperial Architecture, Vietnam
A systematic analysis of Hue Imperial Architecture reveals a modular design logic that integrates floor-plan configuration, truss type, and façade form to generate cohesive building categories and pattern variations. This approach ensured structural stability, functional flexibility, and visual harmony while enabling efficient large-scale construction. The study, leveraging classical Chinese sources, Nguyen-dynasty drawings, and extensive fieldwork across key sites like the citadel and mausoleums, identifies five major building types and 22 architectural patterns. These findings highlight the advanced nature of premodern craft techniques, offering practical insights for heritage conservation and contemporary architectural practice.
Heritage-led gentrification in Southeast Asian historic cities: A comparative analysis of Chiang Mai Old City and Hue Citadel
Heritage-led gentrification in Southeast Asian historic cities follows distinct trajectories shaped by governance regimes, revealing a paradox where preservation often erodes everyday cultural practices. A comparative analysis of Chiang Mai Old City and Hue Citadel demonstrates that market-driven tourism economies in Chiang Mai lead to incremental commercial conversion and cultural displacement, while state-led conservation policies in Hue result in large-scale relocation to create monumental landscapes. Despite these differences, both cases show how governance regimes influence heritage transformation beyond classical gentrification models. The study proposes a typology distinguishing between market-mediated living-heritage gentrification and state-led monumental-heritage gentrification, contributing to debates on Global South urbanism.
Linking Climatic Resources and Green Tourism Growth Under Climate Change Adaptation Contexts: Evidence from Hue City
A study on Hue City's UNESCO World Heritage Sites reveals that all five climatic factors—wind, rainfall, thermal conditions, extreme weather events, and humidity—positively and significantly influence green tourism growth. These findings underscore the importance of integrating climate information, seasonal planning, and adaptive strategies into sustainable tourism governance to mitigate climate change impacts. The research analyzed 174 tourist surveys collected from Bach Ma, Hue Imperial Citadel, and Chuon Lagoon–Thuan An over a year, using SPSS for statistical analysis, with the regression model explaining 35.3% of variance in green tourism growth.
Architectural Design Restoration for the Reconstruction of Heritage Buildings: Case Study of the Chieu Kinh Dien Temple, Hue Imperial City, Vietnam
A multidisciplinary approach successfully restored the original architectural design of the Chieu Kinh Dien Temple, a lost heritage building within Hue Imperial City. Using historical documents, archaeology, and proportion analysis—with reference to the Long Duc Dien Temple—the study reconstructed critical elements such as floor plans, roof designs, and facades. This methodology offers a blueprint for authentic heritage reconstruction, aligning with the Nara Convention's principles for preserving cultural integrity. The findings provide actionable guidance for restoring Hue Imperial City and similar sites in Vietnam, ensuring fidelity to early Nguyen Dynasty architectural intent.
From Heritage to Market: Leveraging Differentiation and Capabilities to Export Hue’s Handicrafts to Europe
A significant breakthrough in the export of Hue's traditional handicrafts, such as royal needlework and conical caps, has been achieved by leveraging differentiation strategies, marketing capabilities, and institutional support. This study reveals that these factors collectively explain 63.5% of the variance in export performance to Europe, with institutional considerations playing a foundational role before marketing and differentiation efforts. The research employs a survey of 445 craftspeople, exporters, and marketers in Thừa Thiên-Huế, analyzed using PLS-SEM and Smart PLS 4.0, demonstrating that trained labor and raw materials significantly contribute to local export success. These findings provide actionable insights for governments, industry associations, and cultural entrepreneurs to strengthen Hue's position in the European market.
Thai Hoa palace’s decorative sculpture art in Hue Imperial city
Thai Hoa Palace, constructed in 1805 during the Nguyen Dynasty, stands out for its distinctive 'double roof, duplex house' architectural style and intricate decorative sculpture art. This structure, a centerpiece of Hue Imperial City, blends traditional Vietnamese decorative elements with modern fine arts, creating a unique aesthetic. The palace's stone sculptures, enamel, and porcelain inlays reflect exceptional worldwide artistic value. Built by craftspeople from across Vietnam, Thai Hoa Palace serves as a testament to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of its era. Currently, it is part of Hue's old capital remains, preserving its historical and cultural significance.
The Architecture of Imperial Mausoleums: Case Studies from the Early Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1848), Vietnam
Imperial mausoleums of the early Nguyen Dynasty (1802–1848) in Hue, Vietnam, reveal a structured architectural symbolism where three key components—Tomb area (A), Worship Temples area (B), and Stele Hall area (C)—embody kingship, theocracy, and civil rights. Unlike previous studies that focused on historical or cultural contexts, this research deciphers their spatial and compositional layouts through document analysis, site surveys, and architectural inventory, identifying distinct axial arrangements for Emperors Gia Long, Minh Mang, and Thieu Tri's mausoleums. The findings clarify how these structures convey messages of memory, soul, and body, bridging gaps in understanding the dynasty’s funerary architecture.
The Cultural Significance of the Complex of Hue Monuments: A World Heritage Gem
A new conceptual framework bridges conservation, inheritance, and utilization of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, offering a clearer roadmap for recognizing cultural heritage value. The study focuses on the Complex of Hue Monuments in Vietnam, the first such site designated in 1993, which suffered severe damage during the Indochina War (1947-1975). Since then, international-led conservation efforts have restored its outstanding universal significance. The research proposes an intermediary notion to guide future heritage management, emphasizing not only material preservation but also safeguarding intangible elements and potential revitalization for societal benefit. This approach is critical for sites like the lost Can Chanh Dien Palace, where restoration is deemed both feasible and imperative.
Tourism Research on the Cultural Heritage of the Imperial City of Hue, Vietnam
The Imperial City of Hue, Vietnam's sole ancient capital with fully preserved royal architecture, presents a unique challenge and opportunity for sustainable tourism integration. This study identifies the critical need to balance the preservation of its rich cultural heritage—encompassing material structures like palaces, intangible traditions, and scenic landscapes—with its potential as an international tourist attraction. Through a structured analysis, the research evaluates Hue's current tourism landscape, highlighting both achievements in heritage protection and areas requiring improvement. It proposes targeted strategies to stimulate tourism demand while ensuring sustainable development, offering actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders. The approach combines historical context with practical solutions, aiming to leverage Hue's cultural value without compromising its integrity.
Treatment of urban wastewater discharged into Tinh Tam lake using hydrogen peroxide-supplemented aerated biofilter system
A hydrogen peroxide-supplemented aerated biofilter system (ABF-H₂O₂) demonstrates significant potential for treating urban wastewater in heritage sites, achieving high removal efficiencies of 69–81% for chemical oxygen demand and 88–94% for biochemical oxygen demand. The study, conducted on a laboratory-scale reactor over 45 days, also showed that ammonium removal efficiency varied with organic loading rates, peaking at 87% under low-loading conditions but dropping to 27% at higher loads. H₂O₂ supplementation enhanced dissolved oxygen levels, supporting microbial activity and treatment stability. Microscopic analysis revealed a diverse and well-adapted microbial community, including protozoa and metazoa, suggesting the ABF-H₂O₂ approach could serve as a sustainable, decentralized solution for wastewater management in ecologically and historically significant areas like Tinh Tam Lake within Vietnam's Imperial Citadel of Hue.
An Architectural Study on Hue Imperial City (1802-1883) of the Nguyen Dynasty and Its Original Characteristics, Vietnam
Research reveals that the Hue Imperial Architecture (HIA) within the Complex of Hue Monuments, Vietnam's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, underwent significant modifications over 143 years under the Nguyen Dynasty. By analyzing historical documents, site surveys, dimensional data, and architectural inventories, the study redefined the original period of HIA, offering new insights into its spatial organization and typology. This work establishes a database for HIA, contributing to architectural history, education, and heritage conservation efforts in Vietnam.
Experience in the conservation, and restoration of Relic (Ngo Mon relic – Hue Imperial City)
A comprehensive approach to the conservation and restoration of the Ngo Mon relic within the Complex of Hué Monuments has been developed, addressing gaps in current practices. This study identifies valuable aspects of the relic and provides scientific foundations for its preservation, including methods for historical analysis, construction scheduling, material assessment, and documentary photo examination. It also supports professionals in adhering to state regulations and policies during conservation projects, ensuring more professional and effective restoration efforts.
Methodology for Establishing the Appropriate Protected Area based on the Analysis of Old Drawings In case of Gia Long Mausoleum, Hue
A groundbreaking analysis of old drawings and maps reveals that the current protected area of Gia Long Mausoleum (GLM), part of Vietnam's UNESCO-listed Complex of Hué Monuments, is significantly smaller than Emperor Gia Long's original vision. This study deciphers historical records to demonstrate GLM's integration with 'Shan-Shui design,' tropical water management, and local community symbiosis—elements overlooked during its 1993 World Heritage inscription. By reconstructing the ideal worldview of Gia Long and identifying forbidden areas from the era, researchers provide a methodology for defining an appropriate protected area that deepens the site's Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). This approach offers a model for preserving cultural heritage while respecting historical intentions.
Patterns Symbols in Auspicious Animal Decorate in the Imperial City of Hue, Socialist Republic of Vietnam
The Imperial City of Hue, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the capital of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802–1945), exemplifies cultural diffusion through its architecture, blending Vietnamese traditions with Chinese influences. Built over 27 years under Emperor Gia Long’s rule, it mirrors the Forbidden City in Beijing while emphasizing Vietnam’s strategic geographic advantages—rivers, mountains, and seas—as natural defenses. The study reveals how auspicious animal motifs in decorate symbolize royal authority, reflecting Confucian governance and Vietnamese monarchy’s legacy. This architectural fusion underscores Hue’s uniqueness as a capital city, offering insights into its historical significance and cultural heritage.
The Application of Geographical Information Systems and the Analytic Hierarchy Process in Selecting Sustainable Areas for Urban Green Spaces: A Case Study in Hue City, Vietnam
A study identifies 684 hectares in Hue City, Vietnam, as highly suitable for urban green spaces (UGSs) to address current and future population needs. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), researchers mapped potential UGS areas based on six criteria, prioritizing proximity to residential zones. The research proposes expanding existing UGSs by 35 new spaces, totaling 167 hectares, to meet Hue's green space requirements by 2030. This approach integrates local resident input and leverages Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for sustainable urban planning.
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