The Middle Region Resident-Superior’s Office, also known as the Annam Resident-Superior’s Office, was a site closely associated with the political history and patriotic movements in Huế in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Completed in July 1878, the building served as the headquarters of the French colonial administration in Central Viet Nam and played an important role in overseeing and influencing the activities of the Nguyễn imperial court.
The site is particularly associated with the 1908 anti-tax movement, an important event in the history of popular resistance in Thừa Thiên Huế. The demonstration also marked the participation of the young Nguyễn Tất Thành, who joined the demonstrators as an interpreter.
The Middle Region Resident-Superior’s Office in the History of Huế
Completed in 1878, the Middle Region Resident-Superior’s Office became one of the centers of colonial power in Central Viet Nam. From here, the colonial administration exercised control and supervision over many affairs in the region and exerted considerable influence over the activities of the Nguyễn imperial court.
The building therefore represented not only an administrative institution but also the political power structure that existed in Huế under the colonial and imperial regimes.
The 1908 Anti-Tax Movement
In April 1908, the area around the Middle Region Resident-Superior’s Office became an important site of the anti-tax movement in Thừa Thiên Huế.
The demonstrations took place from 9 to 13 April 1908, reaching their peak on 11 April, when peasants from six districts of the province gathered around the Resident-Superior’s Office and submitted petitions demanding action concerning taxation and related grievances.
The movement quickly attracted people from various sections of Huế society. The demonstrators opposed excessive taxes and the heavy burdens imposed on the population under the prevailing system of administration.
Nguyễn Tất Thành and the Anti-Tax Movement
One of the most notable aspects of the 1908 event was the participation of the young Nguyễn Tất Thành, who joined the demonstration as an interpreter.
According to the historical materials associated with the site, this event is regarded as an important moment in the development of Nguyễn Tất Thành’s patriotic awareness and activities. By witnessing the people’s struggle and the violent suppression of the demonstration by the authorities, he gained further understanding of the nature of the colonial regime and the power of people acting collectively.
These experiences in Huế are regarded as part of the process through which Nguyễn Tất Thành developed his determination to seek a path toward national liberation.
The Resident-Superior’s Office After 1945
The Middle Region Resident-Superior’s Office was completely destroyed in 1945. Although the original building no longer survives, the site remains part of Huế’s historical memory because of its connection with the anti-tax movement of 1908.
To commemorate Nguyễn Tất Thành’s participation in the anti-tax movement in Huế, the city’s authorities assigned the Huế Branch of the Ho Chi Minh Museum to construct a commemorative landmark at the site.
The monument helps recall the people’s movement in Thừa Thiên Huế and the participation of the young Nguyễn Tất Thành in this important historical event in Huế in the early 20th century.
Historical Significance of the Site
Although the original building has disappeared, the Site of the Middle Region Resident-Superior’s Office remains significant for understanding the history of Huế and patriotic movements in the early 20th century.
The site is primarily associated with the 1908 anti-tax movement, a protest involving large numbers of people from Thừa Thiên Huế. The event reflected social tensions and popular opposition to the heavy taxation imposed under the contemporary system of colonial rule.
The site is also associated with an important event in the patriotic activities of Nguyễn Tất Thành. It therefore provides a connection between the history of Huế, popular resistance and an important stage in the life of Nguyễn Tất Thành.
The Site Today
The Site of the Middle Region Resident-Superior’s Office is located at No. 32 Le Loi Street, Thuan Hoa Ward, Hue City, in the area that is now occupied by Hue University of Education.
The site was recognized as a provincial historical relic by the People’s Committee of Thừa Thiên Huế Province on 28 September 2007.
Today, the site serves as a historical landmark where visitors can learn about Huế society in the early 20th century, the 1908 anti-tax movement and the participation of the young Nguyễn Tất Thành in the people’s struggle.
Quick Information
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Site of the Middle Region Resident-Superior’s Office |
| Historical building | Middle Region Resident-Superior’s Office |
| Year completed | 1878 |
| Notable event | 1908 Anti-Tax Movement |
| Period of the movement | 9–13 April 1908 |
| Peak of the movement | 11 April 1908 |
| Historical figure associated with the site | Nguyễn Tất Thành |
| Recognition | 2007 |
| Heritage status | Provincial historical relic |
| Recognizing authority | People’s Committee of Thừa Thiên Huế Province |
| Address | No. 32 Le Loi Street, Thuan Hoa Ward, Hue City |
| Present-day site | Hue University of Education |
Location: No. 32 Le Loi Street, Thuan Hoa Ward, Hue City, Viet Nam.
