According to the Hue Monuments Conservation Center, Kien Trung Palace, also known as Kien Trung Tower, was built under King Khai Dinh's reign with the word "Kien" meaning to build, establish, and the word "Trung" meaning upright, unbased. According to old documents, at the original location of this building, there were previously two other architectural works, namely Minh Vien Lau, also known as Minh Vien Tower (1827) and Du Cuu Lau, also known as Du Cuu Tower (1913). Minh Vien Tower was built under the reign of King Minh Mang. This is a large wooden tower with 3 floors, a place for the king to enjoy the scenery and cool off. Minh Vien Tower was once a work of great artistic value, praised by King Thieu Tri as "the first scene in the 20 scenic spots of the Imperial City of Hue". However, this work was dismantled in 1876 under the reign of King Tu Duc because of serious deterioration