King Gia Long’s tomb is located in the upper reaches of the Perfume River, while King Khai Dinh’s imprints with an architectural combination of East and West.
Tomb of Gia Long or Thien Tho Lang, located in Huong Tho commune (Huong Tra town), is the tomb of King Gia Long (1762-1820), the founder of the Nguyen Dynasty. The mausoleum was built in 1814 and completed in 1820.
Gia Long tomb complex is said to have the most beautiful feng shui position among the Nguyen Dynasty tombs. According to the old history, the geomancer Le Duy Thanh (son of the scientist Le Quy Don) was the one who found this land, which, according to him, “has gathered all the good influences radiating from the surrounding hills and mountains.”
King Gia Long was the king who allowed his wife – Thua Thien Cao Queen, to be buried by the side after her death. There is a citadel system that surrounds tombs of King Gia Long and Thua Thien Cao Queen.
King Minh Mang’s tomb, also known as Hieu Lang, locates on Cam Khe Mountain, near the Bang Lang T-junction, where the confluence of the Huu Trach and Ta Trach rivers form the Perfume River, 12 km from the center of Hue City. King Minh Mang’s Tomb was built in 1840 and completed in 1843.
According to history, King Minh Mang personally considered and approved the design graphics presented by the officials Bui Cong Huyen, Truong Dang Que, and the Guardian. In April 1840, the construction of Hieu Lang began.
Tomb of King Minh Mang has a balanced architectural layout around a structural axis that is the god path. It goes through a series of works including the main door, the courtyard, the memorial house, the immolated yard, Hien Duc Mon and Sung An Palace, Trung Minh Lake, Minh Lau, Tan Nguyet Lake (new moon), the three gates of Quang Minh Chinh Truc, Trung Dao Bridge and finally the forbidden citadel. The mausoleum has an area of 18 ha, but the prohibited area around the tomb is 475 ha.
The Thieu Tri Tomb locates in Cu Chanh village, Thuy Bang commune, Huong Thuy town, where King Thieu Tri (1807-1847), the third king of the Nguyen Dynasty, was buried. This tomb is the only Nguyen Dynasty’s one that heads to the northwest.
Compared to the two tombs of King Gia Long and King Minh Mang, the tomb of King Thieu Tri is closer to the city, which is the reconciliation of the two architectural models by designing two axes: tomb area on the right, the worshiping area on the left.
Khiem Lang in Thuy Xuan Ward, Hue City, is the burial place of King Tu Duc (1829 – 1883), the king who had the longest reign of the Nguyen Dynasty with 36 years. The mausoleum was built from 1866 to 1873.
Tomb of King Tu Duc has a large campus with flowing streams, pine trees, and singing birds. This tomb is located in the highest area, surrounded by ancient pine forest, porcelain trees.
Khiem Lang has sophisticated architecture, charming landscape with nearly 50 buildings in both the shrine and mausoleum areas. The layout of the tomb consists of two main parts on two parallel axes, in the front is Giang Khiem mountain, behind is Duong Xuan mountain and the inside is Luu Khiem lake.
Khai Dinh tomb locates on the side of Chau Chu mountain in Thuy Bang commune, Huong Thuy town, where is the resting place of King Khai Dinh (1885 -1925). The mausoleum was started construction in 1920 and took 11 years later to complete.
Khai Dinh tomb is one of the most beautiful architecture with its East-West style. Mausoleum construction materials were mainly transferred from France. Today, the tomb of Khai Dinh is one of the monuments that attracts many tourists.
Vo Thanh
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