An intoxicated man was wrestled to the ground and detained by police Saturday afternoon after he stormed a roped-off area and snapped the armrest off a 200-year-old imperial throne inside one of Vietnam’s most sacred historical landmarks.
The throne—recognized as a national treasure by Vietnam—sat inside the Thái Hòa Palace in the heart of Hue’s Imperial City, once the seat of power for Vietnam’s last royal dynasty, the Nguyễn emperors.
Officials say the man showed “clear signs of delusion” before climbing onto the throne, shouting nonsensical phrases, and violently breaking off the armrest, shattering a decorative dragon’s head in the process. A photo released by Nhân Dân, the Communist Party’s official newspaper, shows the golden dragon head lying broken on the palace floor.
“This isn’t just vandalism,” said heritage expert Dr. Hien Truong of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center. “It’s an attack on Vietnam’s cultural identity.”
National Symbol in Ruins
The Thái Hòa Palace, built in 1805, served as the ceremonial heart of the Nguyễn Dynasty, where emperors once held court beneath its intricately carved roof. The throne—lavishly decorated in lacquer and gold—has stood untouched for nearly a century, its dragon motifs symbolizing imperial authority and divine rule.
“The throne represented centuries of power, tradition, and national pride,” said historian Linh Dao of Vietnam’s University of Social Sciences and Humanities. “That one drunken moment desecrated a piece of living history.”
How It Happened
Around 12:10 p.m. local time, witnesses say the man ducked under a velvet rope and staggered up the palace steps. Despite visible “No Entry” signs, he climbed onto the throne and began shouting before lunging at the left armrest.
“He was yelling in gibberish—completely out of his mind,” said tourist Pham Nguyen, who watched the scene unfold. “Guards were screaming at him to stop, but it was too late. The crack echoed through the hall.”
Guards quickly subdued the man and handed him over to police. He is now undergoing psychiatric evaluation for what officials are calling “unstable mental health.”
Aftermath and Outrage
Vietnamese authorities have launched an investigation, while cultural preservationists are calling the incident a wake-up call.
“This is what happens when historical treasures are treated like Instagram backdrops,” said cultural critic Bao An. “We need better enforcement, not just velvet ropes and security cameras.”
Repairs to the throne are expected to be delicate and costly. Officials have closed Thái Hòa Palace to the public indefinitely while restoration experts assess the damage.
Meanwhile, Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture has ordered increased security across Hue’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, which includes the Imperial City and dozens of royal tombs and pagodas.
“Artifacts like this are irreplaceable,” said Minister of Culture Nguyen Van Hung in a press statement. “We owe it to future generations to protect them—at all costs.”
Discover more from Next Gen News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.