Huè, Vietnam is one of the most picturesque cities in all of Vietnam, known for its beauty, historical importance and scholarly eminence. It is a city not to be missed while touring the country. One of the more interesting visits will be to the royal tombs scattered about the countryside. There are seven known royal tombs in Huè, most to the southeast of the Citadel across the expanse of the Perfume River, and the lone once not far from the Citadel itself. Three of the seven, remain in the best condition and are most visited by those who visit the city.
The Minh Mang royal tomb, which is on the side of the river with the Citadel is the most traditional of the tombs and is laid out in a classical Chinese style, emphasizing a symmetry reflective of that same traditional style. The tomb has some forty edifices upon the grounds, with a main pathway that leads to the salutation court, stele pavilion, and thereafter the emperor’s tomb. The emperor did not live to see the completion of the tomb that he ordered and it was his son who finished completion with the emperor’s burial in 1843.
Tu Duc’s tomb is one that actually was used by the emperor’s household as he fortified himself within the grounds. Longest reigning of the Nguyen Dynasty, he died childless, and wrote on his own stele since he had no son to perform the ritual.
The tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh contains an European influence in contrast to all other tombs. Unlike the layout of the Ming Mang and Tu Duc sites, it has more the look of a monument. There was a heavy taxation levied upon the peasantry to pay for the construction of the tomb, which took 11 years to complete.
Upon reaching the site, its massive concrete walls towering in the background, entry is through a triple wrought iron gate leading up the staircase, across the courtyard and into the chamber, which consists of colored glass and broken pieces of porcelain adhered to the walls, highlighting in stark contrast the elements of Eastern and Western design.