This striking building was originally constructed in 1917 for King Khải Định (1916-1925). The king later had the building renovated and enlarged between 1917 and 1919. From 1919 to 1925 the palace functioned as a residence for Crown Prince Bảo Đại and a summer palace for the king. Following the abdication of King Bảo Đại in 1945 it became the residence of the Queen Mother, the Queen and King Bảo Đại’s five children. Between 1955 and 1975 it was used as a dormitory for government officals and professors from the University of Huế. After Reunification in 1975 it was transferred to the Provincial Trades Union and became the Worker’s Culture House (Nhà Văn hóa Lao động). However in 2001 it was placed in the care of the Huế Monuments Conservation Centre. The exterior of the building was renovated during the Huế Festival 2002. The beautiful interior of An Định Palace incorporates many decorative features, including hundreds of wall and ceiling artworks that require urgent restoration. In 2003 the first of these, a series of murals painted in 1917 by court artist Lương Quang Duyệt, were restored with German assistance.

Related links: Huế Historic Monuments.