The art of ceramic decoration in Hue royal architecture during the Nguyen dynasty in Vietnam is a significant heritage resource that needs to be studied, preserved, and developed. Unfortunately, many Hue royal structures have been destroyed as a consequence of rapid urban development. Attempts have been made at restoring others, but the types of restorations and construction works employed result in considerable differences between historical and modern appearance. In combination, these factors can be disastrous and lead to a diminution in the status of ceramic heritage in Vietnam. In this presentation, the ceramic application and decoration systems utilised in some of the typical Hue royal architecture, both outside and within the Royal Citadel are synthesised. The results are compared with decorative ceramics that were used in communal house and folk architecture in Hue to illustrate the different characteristics - as a first step to understanding the complexity of ceramic materials used in monuments and to emphasise their heritage value. By taking a field approach and applying new methodological and theoretical techniques, this paper will recreate the methods of ceramic decoration applied in royal architecture, propose solutions to preserve and promote ceramic heritage values, and suggest developmental methods of preservation and conservation for the future.