On August 19, 1945, the general uprising broke out. But in Hue, the capital of the Nguyen dynasty, everything happened more slowly and dramatically. This was the last day of the Nguyen dynasty, August 30, 1945. Before talking about August 30, let's say a little about the Nguyen dynasty and Bao Dai, the last king of the Nguyen dynasty, the central figure of the event. The Nguyen dynasty began in 1802 when Nguyen Anh, or King Gia Long, defeated the Tay Son dynasty.
This dynasty lasted 143 years with a total of 13 kings from Gia Long to Bao Dai. However, since the French invasion in 1858, the Nguyen dynasty gradually lost power, becoming a puppet under the protection of the colonial regime. Kings like Ham Nghi, Thanh Thai, and Duy Tan were patriotic kings who tried to resist the French but all failed. By the time of Bao Dai, the court was almost just a symbol and had no real power.
Bao Dai's real name was Nguyen Phuc Vinh Thuy, born in 1913 in Hue. He ascended the throne as a teenager after his father, King Khai Dinh, passed away. Bao Dai was sent to Paris to study, living a royal life, exposed to Western culture from a young age. He enjoyed hunting, playing golf, driving cars, collecting watches, and had a very luxurious lifestyle. In 1932, he returned to the country wanting to reform the court by abolishing the harem system and modernizing administration, but the French colonists did not allow it. Real power lay in the hands of the French governor, while Bao Dai only signed decrees and presided over ceremonies.
In March 1945, when the Japanese staged a coup against the French, Bao Dai was given power by the Japanese, but only in name. He declared Vietnam independent, abolished the protective treaties with France, and appointed Tran Trong Kim as prime minister. But this was just a weak government, unable to control the situation, a puppet government of Japan. Japan still stood behind, and the people increasingly supported the Viet Minh. Bao Dai, despite being called a king, was essentially a powerless person. Now let's go to Hue, the center of the Nguyen dynasty court, where all eyes were focused in August 1945.
Hue was the capital with the Forbidden City, Ngo Mon, and Ky Dai, where Bao Dai lived and ruled. But outside the palace, the revolutionary atmosphere was boiling. On August 19, 1945, when Hanoi had seized power, the Viet Minh forces in Hue began to act. Armed propaganda teams marched through famous streets like Dong Ba market and Truong Tien bridge calling on the people to rise up. The red flag with a yellow star appeared everywhere, from villages to schools.
On August 23, a massive demonstration took place in front of Ngo Mon, the main gate of the citadel. Tens of thousands of people, including farmers, workers, students, and intellectuals gathered, shouting slogans for Vietnam's independence and denouncing the monarchy. The revolutionary atmosphere was intense. The people of Hue, who were used to the calm of the capital, were now filled with enthusiasm. Inside the Forbidden City, Bao Dai and the court officials were confused. The Tran Trong Kim government was almost disintegrating, with many officials fleeing. Bao Dai summoned his close advisors, including Pham Khac Hoe, the court secretary, who later wrote a memoir from the Hue court to the Viet Bac war zone.
Bao Dai asked what should we do? Some officials suggested fleeing or resisting, but Pham Khac Hoa advised Bao Dai to abdicate to avoid bloodshed. The gist was that Bao Dai could not hold the throne when the people no longer supported him. Abdication was a way to maintain peace for the country. Pham Khac Hoe's memoir recounts that before the abdication, Bao Dai once asked him whether the Viet Minh would kill him. It shows the young king's anxiety before the wave of revolution.
On August 25, Bao Dai made a historic decision. He sent an abdication edict to the Viet Minh, inviting them to send a delegation to Hue to hand over power. The letter was brief but meaningful, reflecting the acceptance of reality. And then five days later, the fateful day arrived. On August 30, 1945, in front of Ngo Mon, more than 50,000 people from Thua Thien, Quang Tri, and Quang Nam gathered. The crowd filled the courtyard of the citadel. The red flag with a yellow star fluttered amidst the loud cheers. On Ky Dai, the flag of the Nguyen dynasty was lowered and replaced by the red flag with a yellow star, the symbol of the new Vietnam.
Inside the Forbidden City, Bao Dai prepared for the abdication ceremony. He was dressed formally but his mood was surely heavy. This was the last time he appeared as emperor. The court officials stood silently, many with tears in their eyes. The atmosphere in the palace was in stark contrast to the fervor outside.
The Viet Minh delegation arrived in Hue early, consisting of three prominent figures. Tran Huy Lieu, a staunch revolutionary, was the head of the delegation. Nguyen Luong Bang, who later became the vice president, and Cu Huy Can, a famous poet who left vivid accounts of this event. They wore simple clothes, reflecting the spirit of equality of the revolution. When entering the citadel, they were led to the Ngũ Phụng floor where Bao Dai was waiting. The crowd below fell silent, anxiously awaiting the historic moment. Bao Dai stepped out, standing before the crowd. He began to read the abdication edict drafted by Pham Khac Hoe. His voice was clear but could not hide his emotion. “I would rather be a citizen of an independent country than a king of a slave country.”
That short but weighty statement went down in history. It was not only a renunciation of the throne but also a declaration to end the feudal regime that had lasted over 1000 years in Vietnam. The crowd below applauded loudly, shouting Vietnam independence. The cheers echoed throughout the citadel. Next was the symbolic moment when Bao Dai handed over to the Viet Minh delegation two treasures of the court. They were the royal seal, a gold block weighing 8 kg, intricately carved in the shape of a dragon, symbolizing the king's supreme power, and a silver sword inlaid with jade, symbolizing military power.
Representative Tran Huy Lieu received the seal and sword, bowing to thank Bao Dai for his wise decision. He declared that from now on, Vietnam belonged to the people, the feudal regime was over, and the crowd below erupted again. After the abdication ceremony, Bao Dai removed his royal robe, becoming citizen Vinh Thuy. He was invited by the Viet Minh to serve as a senior advisor to the provisional government, a ceremonial role to demonstrate national unity. Initially, he agreed to move to Hanoi, attending some government meetings. But the new life was not easy for someone used to luxury. He was accustomed to the palace and now had to adapt to the simplicity of the revolution.
In 1946, Bao Dai went to China but in fact to leave Vietnam. From China, he went to Hong Kong in exile. Later, he returned to become the head of state under French support. He was later overthrown by Ngo Dinh Diem and deposed. Bao Dai lived the rest of his life in France and passed away in 1997 in Paris.
What about the other members of the Nguyen dynasty court?
Many officials followed the Viet Minh, some participated in the new government. For example, Pham Khac Hoe became an official under the Viet Minh, later writing a memoir recounting the events. But there were also those who sided with the French, like some princes. The dynasty ended, but the legacy of the Nguyen dynasty remains. That is the citadel of Hue, now a UNESCO heritage site, along with the tombs and palaces reminding us of a golden yet tragic time of the Nguyen dynasty. August 30, 1945 not only marked the end of 143 years of the Nguyen dynasty but also the end of over 1000 years of feudalism in Vietnam.
This was the first time a dynasty ended not by internal war or coup but by the August revolution, a successful mass revolution with little bloodshed. It paved the way for September 2, 1945, when Uncle Ho read the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square, declaring that Vietnam had the right to enjoy freedom and independence and had indeed become a free and independent country. Power must come from the people. Bao Dai, though a king, had to abdicate when there was no support from the people. In that context, the Viet Minh led wisely and acted decisively.
Today, that lesson remains valuable: unity, self-reliance, and not allowing foreign interference. The last day of the Nguyen dynasty is a chapter of tragic history and emotion. From the chaotic context of 1945 to the revolutionary climax in Hue, to the moment of abdication at Ngo Mon and the new era that opened, it is a testament to the resilient and united spirit of the Vietnamese nation. History is not just dry numbers but also vivid stories that teach us to love our country more.