A ceremony to inaugurate the newly built Kengtung Haw Palace Replica Museum took place on the morning of May 12 at Haw Palace Park on Nawngtong Lake Circular Road in Ward 5 of Kengtung, Shan State (East). The event was attended by Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla.

During the ceremony, the master of ceremonies explained the history of the Haw Palace. Town elder U Sai Yi Tip Pawong noted that the day was auspicious for Kengtung, as the Kengtung Haw Palace Replica Museum had been a long-lost landmark. He expressed gratitude to the Senior General and officials for their guidance in rebuilding the museum dedicated to Kengtung Saopha Sao Kawng Kiao Intaleng.

The Senior General unveiled the stone plaque of the museum and sprinkled it with scented water, followed by relatives of Kengtung Saopha Sao Kawng Kiao Intaleng and town elders who also honored the plaque.

The Senior General, his wife, and their party toured the museum, viewing documentary photos of the Saopha and his family, various utensils, and the arrangement of rooms in the Haw Palace. He emphasized the importance of gathering more historical documents, preserving ancient utensils, and installing glass partitions to protect the displays. He instructed officials to ensure the museum's maintenance for future generations.

Construction of the original Kengtung Haw Palace, attributed to Saopha Sao Kawng Kiao Intaleng, began in 1903 under Indian expert supervision and was completed in 1906. The palace features a blend of Shan, Burmese, European, and Indian architectural elements. It was inhabited by generations of the ruling family until 1959, then repurposed as a government office in 1962. The palace has since undergone meticulous restoration, culminating in its reopening today, following directives from the Chairman of the State Administration Council, responding to appeals from the royal lineage and local populace.