Hue—the land of the ancient capital, where the golden mark of the last feudal dynasty in Vietnam is preserved. Each relic here not only tells a story of history but also opens up a world of exquisite art. Among the majestic tombs of the Nguyen Kings, Khai Dinh Tomb stands out with its unique East-West architecture. If you love magnificent works and are meticulous about every detail, this is definitely a stop not to be missed when coming to Hue. In this article, we will walk you through all the highlights of Khai Dinh Tomb.
An overview of Khai Dinh Tomb
Located on Chau Chu Mountain near Hue, the Khai Dinh Tomb (also called Ung Lang) is the resting place of the Khai Dinh Emperor—the 12th King of the Nguyen Dynasty. It began to be built in 1920; it took 11 years to complete this tomb. Although the total square is compact, the construction process is extremely elaborate and expensive. To obtain funding, the king increased taxes by 30% across the country and imported many modern materials from France (iron, steel, cement, tile, etc.) and crockery and colored glass from China and Japan in order to build monumental tombs.
An overview of Khai Dinh Tomb
Khai Dinh Tomb stands out for its unique Asian–European intersection architecture, harmoniously combining classic and modern features. The main interior of the mausoleum (Thien Dinh Palace) is decorated with porcelain and glass mosaics, creating brilliant reliefs. In particular, the motifs here also intertwine traditional images with Western objects (watches, tennis rackets), which clearly shows the cultural interference. As the last mausoleum of the Nguyen Dynasty, this work marks the transition between traditional and modern architecture and reflects the bold and novel personality of the Khai Dinh Emperor.
Helpful Information for tourist
Opening hour
- Summer from 6:30 am and 5:30 pm
- Winter: from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm
Visit fee
- Adult: 150,000 VND (~5.88 USD)/person.
- Children (from 7 to 12 years old): 30,000 VND (~1.18 USD)/person.
- Free charge for children under 7 years old.
In addition, visitors can choose tour packages that combine multiple attractions to save costs and time. For example, the adult ticket price for a three-point tourist route including Hue Imperial City, Minh Mang Tomb, and Khai Dinh Tomb costs 420,000 VND (16.47 USD) for adults and 80,000 VND (~3.14 USD) for children aged 7-12.
How to get to Khai Dinh Tomb?
Motorbike
If you prefer to be proactive and enjoy the scenery along the way, a motorbike is an ideal option to get to the Khai Dinh Tomb. The distance from Hue city center to the tomb is about 10 km, taking about 20-25 minutes to drive. You can rent a motorbike at shops in the city for about 120,000–150,000 VND/day ($5–$6), plus about 40,000–50,000 ($1.5–$2) for gas.
Taxi/Grab
Take a taxi or Grab for a quick, comfortable, and hassle-free journey to Khai Dinh Tomb from the center of Hue. It only takes about 15-20 minutes to get to Khai Dinh Tomb from the center of Hue. The taxi fare ranges from 150,000 to 200,000 VND/trip ($6 to $8), while if you book a Grab car, the price can be a little lower, around 120,000 to 180,000 VND/trip ($5 to $7). You can easily book a Grab via the app or call a taxi from reputable companies such as Mai Linh, Thanh Cong, or Vinasun.
Join a group tour
If you want a complete, guided experience, you can sign up for a group tour to visit Khai Dinh Tomb. Usually, this tour will be combined with other tourist attractions such as Minh Mang Tomb, Tu Duc Tomb, Thien Mu Pagoda, or Hue Imperial City. The cost of the tour ranges from 250,000 to 400,000 VND/person ($10 to $16), including shuttle bus, entrance fee, and tour guide. This is a good choice if you want to learn more about the history and architecture of the tomb and do not have to worry about transportation or entrance fees. However, the downside of a group tour is that the visiting time is fixed, and you may have to wait for other people in the group, which is less flexible than traveling on your own. Therefore, if you want to explore freely, consider other options such as a motorbike or taxi.
Where to Go in Khai Dinh Tomb?
Khai Dinh Tomb (also known as Ung Mausoleum) is located on the slopes of Chau Chu Mountain, about 10 km from the center of Hue. Although it has a smaller area than other Nguyen tombs, the tomb is famous for its sophisticated architecture, unique East-West combination, and spectacular surrounding landscape. The entire mausoleum is built on 7 floors followed by 127 brick steps. The entrance is divided into three roads, the two sides of which are covered with a majestic dragon statue stretching down to the feet, creating a magnificent impression right from the entrance gate. Here are the outstanding architectural attractions and interesting experiences when visiting Khai Dinh Tomb:
Tam Quan Gate and the first floor
Through the first 37 steps, visitors will come to the Tam Quan Gate, the main gate with three entrances with unique Hindu architecture. The masonry gate is high and large with typical tower-shaped carved gateposts. Stepping through the gate is a large brickyard; on both sides, there are Ta and Huu Tong Tu (each with 3 compartments) worshipping the altar of the Nguyen courtiers. This area creates a stable lobby for the mausoleum, leading visitors to the next floor.
Tam Quan Gate
Nghi Mon and Bai Dinh Courtyard
Continuing to climb 20 more steps, you will reach Nghi Mon, which is a massive three-view gate leading into Bai Dinh courtyard (also known as the courtyard). Here, visitors will be impressed by the stone statues of mandarins and soldiers standing on both sides of the yard. Each side of the yard has two rows of statues of mandarin servants and elephants, horses of stone carved in real proportions, facial expressions, and vividly carved costumes.
Nghi Mon and Bai Dinh Courtyard
In the middle of the courtyard is Bi Dinh (beer house), built of concrete, with a two-story roof with French ardoise tiles. Inside Bi Dinh, there is a 3.1m high Thanh stone stele engraved with an essay praising the merits of the Khai Dinh emperor, with a sophisticated pattern in the style of a traditional Hue stone stele. The courtyard and majestic stone statue recreate the scene of the ancient court, which is a unique architectural highlight in the mausoleum.
The floors and entrances to Thien Dinh Palace
Behind the courtyard, Khai Dinh Tomb has 3 intermediate floors paved with checkered bricks; each floor is 13 steps apart. The walls of these floors continue to decorate the winding dragon statue like the lower floor. In the yard, there are flower beds of ornamental plants creating green patches. Especially on the second floor, there are two concrete flagpoles (large pillars) used to hang flags on the holiday. The successive floors lead visitors’ eyes gradually upward, preparing them to come to the main architecture on the top of the mausoleum.
The floors and entrances to Thien Dinh Palace
Thien Dinh Palace
Thien Dinh Palace (Khai Thanh Palace) is the highest and most important building of the mausoleum, located on the 5th floor (top floor). Thien Dinh Palace was elaborately built and is the place where the altar is located and the tomb area of Khai Dinh Emperor is located.
Outside, the palace façade is decorated with patterned reliefs and Asian-European interference-style statues, looking like a small castle on the top of the mountain. Inside is Khai Thanh Palace; the main pavilion has a gilded bronze statue of Khai Dinh Emperor sitting on a throne under a splendidly carved canopy arch. It was under the statue that the emperor’s tomb was buried about 9 meters deep in the ground. After the death of the emperor, the body was brought into this location through a secret tunnel 30 m long from behind Bi Dinh.
Thien Dinh Palace consists of 5 consecutive rooms; the outermost is the vestibule, and the innermost is the harem to worship the king’s card. Here, visitors will admire the most luxurious royal interior space at the end of the Nguyen Dynasty.
The interior of Thien Dinh Palace
Some helpful tips
Physical preparation and safety: The tomb has many steep steps, and visitors should wear good shoe soles to make it easier to climb the steps. You should walk slowly, rest if necessary, walk carefully, and avoid slipping on high steps. In hot summer, it is recommended to bring drinking water, a hat, and sunscreen to avoid losing energy and getting sunburned while climbing.
Clothing and behavior: Khai Dinh tomb is a historical relic and spiritual space; visitors should wear modest, polite clothes and avoid clothes that are too short or revealing. When entering the mausoleum, keep order, speak softly, and do not make noise to preserve the solemn atmosphere. Absolutely do not touch artifacts or reliefs, or climb on statues, and do not litter indiscriminately to preserve the relics for everyone to enjoy.
Find out information in advance: Before traveling, you should read the biography and tomb architecture of Khai Dinh Tomb to better understand the meaning of the work during the visit. If possible, please hire a tour guide at the destination or use the available signs and explanations in the mausoleum to explore the historical and artistic details here. Understanding the context and story will make your experience richer and more meaningful.
The outstanding shooting angle in Khai Dinh Tomb
Take photos and souvenirs: Khai Dinh Tomb has many beautiful angles for taking artistic photos, from the majestic dragon steps and the symmetrical stone statue courtyard to the splendid porcelain-inlaid interior. You should refer to some outstanding shooting angles in advance (for example, on social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok). You should note that the inside of the shrine is quite dark, so adjust the camera brightness or turn on the flash appropriately (if allowed) to capture the artistic details. In addition, it is necessary to comply with the regulations on photography: if there is a sign prohibiting photography or requiring no flash (to protect the relic), you should strictly comply.
In conclusion, the Khai Dinh Tomb is a cultural place where visitors can look back to the past and admire the unique architecture. If you have the chance to visit Hue, the lyrical former capital of Vietnam, don’t forget to visit Khai Dinh Tomb. For more comprehensive information and dedicated assistance in planning your vacation in Hue, please contact us now!
Read more:
