VietNamNet Bridge – A total of 132 ancient and priceless documents belonging to the Nguyen Dynasty, dating back hundreds of years and written on ‘Do’ paper, are being displayed in Hanoi.

132 official documents will be displayed at 10 sections, corresponding to the 10 Kings of the dynasty, which reigned over the country from 1802 to 1945, starting with King Gia Long and the last being King Bao Dai.

The documents have original seals of the five kings of the Nguyen Dynasty, including Gia Long, Minh Mang, Thanh Thai, Duy Tan and Bao Dai.

Documents consist of reports, proclamations, decrees, statements and petitions approved by the Nguyen King himself with red ink. These documents were to transmit the King’s decisions to people or to solve political, military, diplomatic, economic, cultural and social problems.

Documents bearing the writings of King Gia Long included medical reports of the court physicians, while King Minh Menh wrote his instructions on many reports regarding agricultural, education, administration, training and cultural matters.

King Bao Dai left many comments in three languages – Vietnamese, Chinese and French, on the official documents.

The exhibition will run until December 31 at the National Archives Centre I in Hanoi.

Some documents at the exhibitions:

Compiled by Mai Lan