According to Việt Nam sử lược, historian Trần Trọng Kim described Hồng Bảo as "an ignorant man and disliked studying".
[1] Four high ministers, Trương Đăng Quế, Võ Văn Giải, Nguyễn Tri Phương and Lâm Duy Hiệp, were appointed as regents.
[3] Rumors held that Hồng Nhậm was the illegitimate child of Trương Đăng Quế.
[4] Hồng Bảo was deeply resentful; he always regarded himself as the heir presumptive of the former emperor, and hoped to seize the throne.
As a result, Hồng Bảo's four sons were put to death together with their mother Trần Thị Thụy (陳氏瑞).