VietNamNet Bridge – The house at No. 145 Phan Dinh Phung Street, Phu Nhuan Ward, Hue City, on the An Cuu Riverside, was once the residence of the Queen Mother Doan Huy, the wife of King Khai Dinh (1916-1925), the 12th king of the Nguyen Dynasty. She was the mother of King Bao Dai - the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty and of Vietnam, who ruled from 1926 to 1945.

The Queen Mother bought this house in 1955, after the government of Ngo Dinh Diem confiscated her An Dinh palace. She lived in the house until she died in 1980.

Before passing away, she told her family to donate the house to the local government. After the takeover of the house in 1980, the Center for Monuments Conservation of Hue City has preserved the house, worshiped the Queen Mother at the house and opened it for tourists to introduce the work that was closely associated with part of the life of the final Queen Mother in the history of Vietnamese feudal dynasties.

By the end of 2014, the altar of the Queen Mother and her relics were moved to An Dinh Palace. The palace was also opened for tourists.

The house of Queen Mother Tu Cung in photos:

This house was built in the early twentieth century in the Indochina style architecture. The house was repaired and expanded by the Queen Mother. Over a period of time and due to harsh climate, this house degraded.         The local authorities restored the house and opened it for tourists. Photo: The yard and garden of the house.   Tourists visit the house. The first and second floor of the major building are the space for display photos and objects of the royal family, including King Khai Dinh, the Queen Mother, Emperor Bao Dai's family and Ton Nhan Palace.       Many tables and chairs are arranged for tourists on the 1st floor.   The stairs to the second floor.   The floor.   The Mother Queen's altar on the 2nd floor.   On the 2nd floor is a room for meetings of the Nguyen Phuc family (descendants of the Nguyen Dynasty), a room with the altar of the Mother Queen and a library of the Nguyen Phuc Family. The remaining rooms on this floor are for tourists and local people to learn about the Nguyen Phuc family, the Nguyen Dynasty and Hue culture.   Coming to this place, visitors can learn about the history of the house, listen to stories about the up-and-down life of the last Queen Mother of Vietnam. This space will be connected with Khai Tuong Lau and An Dinh Palace, where the last King’s family lived. Photo: The large doors overlooking the courtyard from the 2nd floor.       The back side of the 2nd floor.   The yard and garden around the house was renovated to become a coffee shop.   Many photos about the life of the Queen Mother are hung on the 2nd floor.    A photo of the Queen Mother’s son - King Bao Dai and Queen Nam Phuong   The Queen Mother’s grandchildren.