Under Emperor Gia Long, the family's rule was not only restored, but extended to the whole of Vietnam in 1802, thus marking the start of the unified Nguyễn dynasty.

French President Charles de Gaulle suggested that former Emperor Duy Tân return to Vietnam and reenter politics.

According to a article by The New York Times in 1973, it was estimated then by former empress dowager Hoàng Thị Cúc mother of the last ruler Bảo Đại, that the royal family had over 200,000 descendants.

Traditionally, the family traces themselves to Nguyễn Bặc (924–979), a duke of the Đinh dynasty from Gia Viễn, Ninh Bình.

[9] In 1894, the court of the Thành Thái Emperor assigned Resident-Superior Léon Jules Pol Boulloche to take care of the management of the state's revenues, expenditures, taxes, Etc.

"[11][9] Because of these reformes the Huế Court lost a lot of power and had to remove the privileges of the imperial family of the Nguyễn dynasty.

[9] In a 1938 interview in the Tràng An newspaper with the Đại thần of the Court of the Imperial Clan (宗人府大臣, Tôn Nhơn phủ Đại thần) Ưng Trình (1882—1974) about a petition that the members of the imperial clan have to the same taxes as the other groups represented in the House of People's Representatives of Annam, Ưng Trình noted that there were 2000 male members Phủ Tôn Nhơn aged 18 to 60 and that 3 out of 4 were unemployed and did not own any land.

[16] In 1950 Bảo Đại was given the "Domain of the Crown" which included ethnic minority lands within Vietnam that were directly placed under his rule where he remained to be the "Emperor".

[26][27] In 1972, Bảo Đại issued a public statement from exile, appealing to the Vietnamese people for national reconciliation, stating, "The time has come to put an end to the fratricidal war and to recover at last peace and accord".

At times, Bảo Đại maintained residence in southern France, and in particular, in Monaco, where he sailed often on his private yacht, one of the largest in Monte Carlo harbour.

He still reportedly held great influence among local political figures in the Quảng Trị and Thừa Thiên provinces of Huế.

He called for all political factions to create a free, neutral, peace-loving government which would resolve the tense situation that had taken form in the country.

The former emperor clarified, however, that his reign was always a constant battle and a balance between preserving the monarchy and the integrity of the nation versus fealty to the French authorities.

[2] The Đồng tôn tương tế phổ (Hán-Nôm: 同尊相濟譜; French: Association Secours Assistance Mutuels Famille Royale Annam) was officially established in November 1926 by well to do members of the imperial clan, the organisation was tasked with trying to help the poorer members of the imperial clan through solidarity, mutual assistance, care for mourning, hospitality, and education.

[35][9] The members of the Đồng tôn tương tế phổ agreed on a detailed draft programme with 55 points which would dictate what the organisation would do.

The people who helped draft this programme included both Confucianists and Western educated members, the members who helped draft the programme included the Tham tri of the Ministry of War (Binh bộ Tham tri) Ưng Bàng, the Lang trung of the Ministry of Justice (Lang trung Bộ Hình) Tôn Thất Toại, the administrator Bửu Trưng, the Tham tri of the Ministry of Public Works (Công bộ Tham tri) Ưng Đồng, the provisional manager of education of the Ministry of Rites (Thị độc học sĩ Tạm phái Lễ bộ) Ưng Gia, and the French-trained educator Ưng Lộc.

[9] The Đồng tôn tương tế phổ's programme was finally approved by the interim Resident-Superior of Annam Jean Charles Joseph d'Elloy on 6 October 1926.

[9] A revised charter was drafted which would lend books and distribute ink to good students who were members of the Nguyễn Phúc imperial clan.

[9] From this point onwards the Đồng tôn tương tế phổ became an official association with 184 members enjoying full legal status that was recognised by the government, had a strict organisational structure, budget, and its own seal.

[9] The contents of the book were dictated by the Board of Trustees and it contained the purpose, principles, ideals, and modes of operation of association, as well as the rights and obligations of its members.

[9] Additionally, documents related to the annual General Assembly meeting were also synthesised and published by the Board of Trustees into books for distribution to members for reference and monitoring.

[9] With the abolition of the Nguyễn dynasty in 1945 the Court of the Imperial Clan was abolished which also meant the end of the national operations of the Đồng tôn tương tế phổ.

[9] Between the years 1971 and 1972 the Hội đồng trị sự Nguyễn Phước Tộc donated large sums of money to rebuild the Thái miếu, which was almost completely destroyed during the First Indochina War.

[37] The restoration of the Thái miếu not only re-established and enriched the ancestor worshipping facilities at the Imperial City, it also made the former Nguyễn capital a more attractive destination for tourists.

[38] The Hội đồng Nguyễn Phúc tộc Việt Nam organised a scholarly discussion on "An Sơn Temple and Mrs. Phi Yến in Côn Đảo, a matter of legends to heritage records" (An Sơn miếu và bà Phi Yến ở Côn Đảo, vấn đề từ truyền thuyết đến hồ sơ di sản).

[38] After the discussion, the Hội đồng Nguyễn Phúc tộc Việt Nam proposed to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to revoke the decision to recognise the national intangible cultural heritage (Di sản văn hóa phi vật thể) for the death anniversary of the imperial concubine Phi Yến.