After the Vietnam War came to an end in 1975, thousands of families moved to the historical site to live. The infrastructure and areas inside the protected site could not be altered which meant that the people who moved into the area could not build houses there.
The authorities plan a relocation of the inhabitants at a cost expected to exceed VND4 trillion ($170.4 million), with VND2.8 trillion devoted to land clearance, and the remainder on the construction of essential infrastructure for a relocation area spanning 73 ha in Huong So and An Hoa wards.
Since 2019, the authorities have relocated around 2,000 families in the first phase of the relocation project. Hue is currently carrying out the second phase of the relocation project (2022-2025).
Hundreds of houses are located in the Thuan Hoa Ward area that surrounds the Xa Tac Forum (the square in green), which was constructed in 1806.
The area currently has over 1,000 families living in it. The Hue Land Fund Development Center is implementing procedures to relocate the people and reclaim land plots at a cost of VND213 billion.
A moat area at the southwest entrance of the Imperial City is filled with houses.
The moat was built within the same time frame as the Imperial City, between 1802 and 1832. It is part of the Hue Ancient Citadel, which was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.
Over 1,700 families living in the location are expected to be relocated.
Over decades, the environment surrounding the moat area has been affected by littering. Houses also encroach inside certain parts of the moat area.
The gate leading into the site of the Directorate of the Imperial Observatory is located on Han Thuyen Street of Dong Ba Ward.
The observatory's function during imperial times was for weather forecasting, astronomy and calendar-making.
Ha Thuc Quang, 61, and his family have lived inside the Directorate of the Imperial Observatory area for over 30 years. At 3 p.m. every day, he and his wife sell noodle soup on the sidewalks of Han Thuyen Street.
"My family has already received the invitation to do the procedures for compensation and relocation," he said. "I and my family just want to return the land to the historical site, even though we have created so many memories in the place."
Pham Van Lanh, 71, and his family have also lived in the Directorate of Imperial Observatory site for around 40 years. Every day, he sits in the yard located in front of the site to relax, drink tea and read newspapers.
"Our family has completed the procedures for relocation," Lanh said. "Now I just wait for the day when we get our assigned land plot for relocation, and return the current land plot back to the site.'
Several objects lie around the Directorate of the Imperial Observatory.
The authorities of Thua Thien-Hue said the relocation of the people living within the site is an important goal, and part of the roadmap to make Thua Thien-Hue a centrally controlled city.
Drawings of stars and the weather cover the brick walls inside the Observatory. However, several wooden structures have decayed over time
Tong Van Khai, 53, is living with his mother inside the main chamber of the observatory. Khai is the third generation of his family to live inside the site.
"The roof is leaky, so I and my mother have to live in the room next door," Khai said.
Located inside Thuan Loc Ward are the Tinh Tam and Hoc Hai lakes, part of the Imperial City. Over the decades, the area of the Tinh Tam Lake has been encroached upon, causing it to shrink. As planned, 210 families living next to Tinh Tam Lake will be relocated at a cost of VND80 billion.
The Tran Binh Dai site, situated in the northeast corner of the Imperial City, was constructed in 1804. Over the past decades, dozens of families have lived there. The site is also the location of the Thua Thien-Hue military headquarters.
The Hue Land Fund Development Center will relocate 165 families in the area, at a cost of VND52 billion. The area next to the military headquarters has 198 families who will be relocated. The cost will be VND139 billion.
