MONO, the younger brother of Son Tung, unveils an MV at the World Heritage Hue royal palace

On the morning of June 19, 2026, inside the World Heritage Nguyen dynasty royal palace in Hue, central Vietnam, a music video was unveiled. The one who sang was the V-pop artist MONO. The venue was the palace's court theater "Duyet Thi Duong," and the shoot used various spots within the grounds, starting with the palace's main gate, the Meridian Gate (Ngo Mon). For a singer to shoot an MV inside the palace, and moreover premiere it right there, has few precedents, and local media reported him as "the first artist to unveil an MV in the heritage space of the Hue royal palace." Why is this rare, and what does it mean for Japanese people traveling to Hue? We dig in from a tourism perspective.

What happened at the Hue royal palace's theater

The title of the released MV is "Cong Tu Van Tho" (meaning something like the young lord of poetry and prose). It's the lead single from MONO's second studio album, and its unveiling event was held inside Hue's royal palace, at Duyet Thi Duong. From early morning, fans and tourists filled the theater, creating a scene rare even in Vietnamese entertainment history — a new song playing inside a World Heritage building.

The MV was shot centered on the palace's Meridian Gate area, using elements of Nguyen dynasty architecture — red corridors, yellow tiled roofs, symmetrical palace buildings — filling the whole screen. MONO, clad in an embroidered ao dai and a four-part traditional costume, walks through the world of the court led by a white horse — composed in what's called a co trang (period-costume) concept. Officials of Hue City and representatives of the relics management side attended the unveiling event, and MONO was reportedly then approached to take on the role of "Hue Relics Ambassador" (Dai su Di tich Hue).

Why is a "palace shoot" this rare

Behind this is the very character of the filming location. Hue's Nguyen dynasty royal palace (called "Dai Noi" locally) is the core of the "Complex of Hue Monuments," the first in Vietnam to be registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in 1993. The Nguyen was Vietnam's last dynasty, lasting from 1802 to 1945, and Hue was the ancient city where its capital was placed. The palace was the center of its politics and ceremony; the Meridian Gate is the main gate where the emperor attended official events, and Duyet Thi Duong is the royal theater where court music, dance, and drama were performed.

Such historic sites are given top priority for preservation and are almost never opened to commercial filming. Reports by VTV and others also position this MV as "one of the few artistic works granted filming permission at this place of high historical value." In other words, what's "rare" isn't a matter of being able to shoot because he's a popular singer, but that shooting and even performing were carried out with official permission inside a World Heritage Site that's a preservation target — that accumulation of procedure and trust is exceptional. It's worth noting that not only the singer's side but the administration managing the heritage stepped toward "showing cultural heritage through contemporary expression."

This project by the numbers

Organizing the verifiable facts gives the following. The white horse appearing in the MV was made to carry 15 palanquins on its back, each inscribed with a different Chinese character. Multiple local media explain this as staging symbolizing the 15 songs on the new album.

MONO made his singing debut in August 2022 with the MV "Quen Anh Di" and released his first album "22" that year. Its track "Waiting for You" became a big hit on Vietnam's charts. His older brother is the equally national singer Son Tung M-TP, and the story that he debuted saying "my brother succeeded, so why can't I?" is well known. This palace project can be called a clear turn toward linking pop and Vietnam's traditional culture.

Local and fan reactions

Summarizing reactions on social media and in Vietnamese papers in paraphrase, roughly the following voices stood out. All are summarized to the extent that no individual is identified.

• Voices praising the visual side, like "Just being able to shoot that footage inside a World Heritage Site is amazing. The combination of ao dai and palace is truly beautiful."
• Reactions from fans enjoying decoding the device: "I got goosebumps realizing the 15 palanquins on the white horse mean the 15 songs on the new album."
• On the other hand, a cool view putting a request to the musical side too: "The footage is beautiful, no complaints, but the strength of the song itself will be tested in the actual second album to come."

That it's not all praise, with critiques like "beauty alone isn't enough" appearing at the same time, is healthy, and is also the flip side of footage using a World Heritage Site being taken that seriously.

What it means for Japanese travelers — a "pilgrimage" to the Hue royal palace

From here is the main point for people visiting Hue from Japan. The Meridian Gate and Duyet Thi Duong, which became the MV's stage this time, are both places you can actually see on the normal viewing route. In other words, a way of enjoying a trip holds up where you can trace the scenery you saw on screen with your own feet.

Specifically, viewing the palace typically starts by entering from the Meridian Gate. The symmetrical vermilion gate and corridors shown many times in the MV can be confirmed in person here. Duyet Thi Duong is the royal theater, where court music (Nha Nhac — also a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage) is sometimes performed, and if the timing lines up you can experience a live performance of traditional music. Stand on-site after seeing the MV and the moments of realizing "so this cut was from this angle" increase, making for a deep experience that doesn't end as a mere commemorative photo. Many tourists have long rented ao dai to shoot inside the palace, and you could say this MV added a layer of "story" to that way of enjoying it.

There are implications from a gift and souvenir angle too. As a city of court culture, Hue is a place with "tradition × refinement" souvenirs — embroidery, ao dai fabric, court-derived sweets, and more. The co trang worldview the MV put forward aligns neatly with the aesthetic eye for choosing such Hue souvenirs. Those who want to make ao dai-clad shooting part of their trip's fun will also findthe article on Hanoi West Lake's lotus season and ao dai shootinghelpful. To savor Hue at night, combining it withthe "Giac Thuy show" held at Hue's lotus pondmakes a day in the ancient city more three-dimensional.

Filming-location tourism and a new use for cultural heritage

Visiting the stage of a film work, "filming-location tourism (pilgrimage)," is a travel style established in Japan too. What's interesting about MONO's case this time is that the stage isn't a fictional landmark but a protected World Heritage Site itself. A move to reposition heritage from an object merely "to preserve and show" into a resource that "links with contemporary culture and draws in the younger generation" is starting to take concrete form in Vietnam. The approach to MONO about becoming "Hue Relics Ambassador" can be called a symbol of that.

For Japanese travelers, such a trend is a tailwind. If more young people learn of Hue's existence through a talked-about MV, there's a possibility that on-site viewing conditions, access, and related experiences will develop too. Hue is an ancient city worth touring over one or two days, along with a Perfume River cruise and court cuisine, with not only the palace but also the nearby imperial tomb complex (Minh Mang's tomb, Khai Dinh's tomb, etc.) as constituent assets of the World Heritage Site.

Practical info: notes on viewing the Hue royal palace

As a starting point for travel planning, we sum up the basic information within the verifiable range. Because fees, hours, closures, and so on change, be sure to check the latest official guidance before visiting.

Conclusion: to Hue, MV in hand

What MONO showed at Hue's royal palace was a rare example of Vietnam's tradition and contemporary pop joining hands head-on. If you're visiting Hue from Japan, the recommended moves are simple. First, watch the "Cong Tu Van Tho" MV through once and get the footage of the Meridian Gate and Duyet Thi Duong in your head. On-site, enter the palace from the Meridian Gate and walk while matching the MV's cuts with the actual scenery. If possible, look up the court-music performance times and work them in, and choose Hue-specific court sweets and embroidery as souvenirs. To turn the longing sparked by the footage into the memory of your own trip — Hue is an ancient city where you can do that. Why not add Hue to your next list of destinations?

Frequently asked questions

Q. Can you actually see the Meridian Gate and Duyet Thi Duong used in the MV as a tourist?
A. Both are within the normal viewing route of the palace (Dai Noi) and can be visited. Court music is sometimes performed at Duyet Thi Duong. Please check the latest official guidance for fees and hours.

Q. What kind of singer is MONO?
A. Real name Nguyen Viet Hoang, a V-pop singer born in 2000, who debuted in 2022. His older brother is the national singer Son Tung M-TP.

Q. Why is filming at the palace called "rare"?
A. Because Hue's Nguyen dynasty royal palace is a protected World Heritage Site, almost never opened to commercial filming. It's reported that carrying out shooting and even the unveiling with official permission this time is exceptional.

[Source]

• MONO ra mắt ‘Công tử văn thơ’ tại sân khấu Duyệt Thị Đường（Tuổi Trẻ Online）
• MONO đưa di sản truyền thống vào âm nhạc（VTV）