7 Royal Tombs for 9 Nguyen Emperors
There are seven known royal tombs in Hue, six located southeast of the Hue Citadel on the other side of the Perfume River, and a single tomb on the same side. Among these royal tombs, three are particularly popular due to their well-preserved condition and ease of access. These include the tombs of Minh Mang, Tu Duc, and Khai Dinh.
The other four tombs—those of Gia Long, Thieu Tri, Duc Duc, and Dong Khanh—are accessible to tourists visiting Hue, although many tour companies often exclude them from their itineraries for convenience.
The individual entry fees for each tomb are listed at the end of the respective descriptions. However, visitors planning to tour all three of the prominent tombs can opt for a package rate of VND 280,000 (approximately $12.50). Additionally, a combination ticket that includes access to the Citadel offers a package rate of VND 360,000 (around $16.10).
Minh Mang
Address: Hương Thọ, Hương Trà, Thừa Thiên Huế, Vietnam
Phone: +84 234 3523 237
Minh Mang’s royal tomb showcases the emperor’s strong adherence to traditionalism, designed in a classical Chinese architectural layout with unmatched symmetry. The complex consists of forty structures arranged within an oval, walled compound, centered around a path that includes the salutation court, stele pavilion, and the emperor’s tomb.
Date of Construction: 1841-1843
Distance from Hue City Center: 7 miles downriver from Hue
Admission Fee: VND 100,000 for adults, VND 20,000 for children below 13 years of age
Tu Duc
Address: Cầu Đông Ba, thôn Thượng, Huế, Thừa Thiên Huế 530000, Vietnam
The grandeur of Tu Duc’s tomb starkly contrasts his tragic life. Tu Duc reigned the longest among the Nguyens, dying childless after 35 years on the throne and expressing disdain for French colonial influence.
Interestingly, Tu Duc uniquely moved his household into his tomb, creating a Forbidden City on the grounds. Notably, he is the only emperor among those who constructed tombs in Hue who personally wrote his own stele, as he had no son to fulfill this duty.
Date of Construction: 1864-1867
Distance from Hue City Center: 4 miles downriver from Hue
Admission Fee: VND 100,000 for adults, VND 20,000 for children below 13 years of age
Khai Dinh
Address: Khải Định, Huế, Thừa Thiên Huế, Vietnam
The construction of Khai Dinh’s tomb took 11 years, primarily funded through heavy taxation on peasants, which contributed to his unpopularity.
Khai Dinh’s tomb is distinctively designed with significant French architectural influences, setting it apart from his predecessors. This monument, made mainly of concrete and featuring an ornate wrought-iron triple gate, showcases an eclectic mix of Eastern and Western design elements adorned with pieces of broken glass and porcelain.
Date of Construction: 1920-1931
Distance from Hue City Center: 6 miles downriver from Hue
Admission Fee: VND 100,000 for adults, VND 20,000 for children below 13 years of age
Gia Long
Address: Huế, Hương Thọ, Hương Trà District, Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam
Despite Gia Long’s status as the first of the Nguyen emperors, his relatively remote tomb and lack of popularity make it less frequently visited than others in Hue. The local government has allowed the site to deteriorate, resulting in unaddressed damage from wartime events. Notably, Gia Long’s tomb served as the template for subsequent royal tombs.
Date of Construction: 1814-1820
Distance from Hue City Center: 25 miles outside of Hue
Admission Fee: VND 40,000 for adults, free for children below 13 years of age
Thieu Tri
Address: CH9F+42V, Thủy Bằng, Hương Thủy, Thừa Thiên Huế, Vietnam
Thieu Tri, son of Minh Mang and father of Tu Duc, constructed a more modest tomb in comparison to his illustrious kin. This tomb features a covered bridge resembling the iconic bridge in Hoi An. Due to his brief reign, the tomb remained incomplete at the time of his passing. Thieu Tri was temporarily interred in the Long An Temple within the Citadel (now the Museum of Antiquities).
Date of Construction: 1848
Distance from Hue City Center: 5 miles downriver from Hue
Admission Fee: VND 40,000 for adults, free for children below 13 years of age
Duc Duc, Thanh Thai, and Duy Tan
Address: Lăng Dục Đức, Duy Tân, An Cựu, Huế, Thừa Thiên Huế, Vietnam
The Emperor Duc Duc shares his comparatively modest tomb with two other emperors who opposed French colonial rule and were subsequently denied dignified resting places. Presently, the tomb grounds house the remains of Emperors Thanh Thai and Duy Tan, with three altars inside the temple commemorating the three emperors.
Date of Construction: 1883
Distance from Hue City Center: approximately 1.44 miles from Hue
Admission Fee: VND 40,000 for adults, free for children below 13 years of age
Dong Khanh
Address: CHH9+XXH, Đoàn Nhữ Hải, Thủy Xuân, Huế, Thừa Thiên Huế, Vietnam
The smallest of the known royal tombs in Hue, Dong Khanh’s tomb was originally a memorial temple. Emperor Dong Khanh commissioned the temple in honor of his father, but his successor Thanh Thai later repurposed it into Dong Khanh’s tomb. Dong Khanh, a puppet emperor, was subject to French control; hence, his tomb exhibits a unique blend of French architecture alongside traditional Eastern influences, featuring stained glass windows and terra-cotta reliefs.
Date of Construction: 1889
Distance from Hue City Center: about 2.5 miles downriver from Hue
Admission Fee: VND 40,000 for adults, free for children below 13 years of age
