Nestled amidst lush green nature and a poetic lake, Tu Duc Tomb is one of the most beautiful royal mausoleums in Hue. This building is an emotional architectural poem that not only preserves the historical imprint of the Nguyen Dynasty but also reflects the depths of this talented but unfortunate king’s heart. Let’s explore the quiet beauty and interesting secrets hidden in this unique mausoleum.
An Overview of Tu Duc Tomb
History of Tu Duc Tomb
- Address: No. 17/69, Le Ngo Cat Street, Thuy Xuan Ward, Hue City.
- Opening hours: 7:30 am–5:30 pm daily.
- Entrance fees: 150,000 VND per adult, 30,000 VND per child. You can see detailed information and book tickets here.
Tu Duc Tomb in Hue
Tu Duc is one of the most famous architectural works of the Nguyen Dynasty, nestled peacefully in the middle of a lush green pine forest in Thuy Xuan Ward, Hue City. The place is about 8 km southwest of the city center, nestled in a romantic valley by a small stream, like a peaceful silence in the middle of the ancient capital.
The tomb was constructed in 1864 and was completed in 1867 under the reign of the Tu Duc Emperor. The process of building the mausoleum mobilised enormous human strength; thousands of soldiers and citizens had been sweating for many years. Initially, the mausoleum was named “Van Nien Co” (Palace of Eternity) by the emperor, with the desire to live forever. However, because of the arduous work during the construction process, this work once caused significant historical upheavals, such as the popular uprising against the construction of a lavish tomb. After the uprising, the king renamed the tomb “Khiem Cung,” which meant “Palace of Modesty.”
Structure of Tu Duc Tomb
Architecturally, the Tu Duc Mausoleum symbolises the harmony between nature and human hands. The mausoleum complex is divided into two distinct parts: the impregnation area, where the emperor rested and entertained while living, and the mausoleum area, where the emperor’s body was buried. The main highlight is the poetic Luu Khiem Lake, which reflects the shade of trees and the sky all year round, creating peace and sedimentation. Buildings such as Hoa Khiem Palace, Minh Khiem Street, and Pulse Khiem Street are elaborately built with sophisticated carved lines and hidden deep philosophies of Confucianism and Buddhist thought.
Tu Duc Tomb located in the middle of lush green trees and lakes
Tu Duc Mausoleum is not only the final resting place of a Nguyen Dynasty emperor but also clearly shows the romantic, nature-loving, and poetic soul of the Tu Duc emperor. Perhaps it is that contemplation that has turned this place into a destination with a deep imprint in the hearts of tourists every time they set foot in Hue.
Things to do in Tu Duc Tomb
Luu Khiem Lake: The Starting Point of a Pure Journey
When you pass through the gate leading to the tomb of Tu Duc, the first thing that welcomes you is the poetic scenery of Luu Khiem Lake. This is an artificial lake built by King Tu Duc while he was still alive, not only for feng shui purposes but also as a place for the king to immerse himself in nature, write poems, and enjoy the moons. The lake has a soft shape, winding like a green silk strip, reflecting the rows of ancient pine trees, interspersed with pure lotus clusters.
Luu Khiem Lake at Tu Duc Tomb
You might want to take a leisurely walk along the lakeshore, stand under the soft willow trees, and listen to the chirping of birds in the cool breeze. At that moment, you will clearly feel the relaxing, romantic beauty and understand why King Tu Duc, a poetic soul, loved this place so much.
Hoa Khiem Palace: A Place Preserving the Breath of the Ancient Royal Palace
After immersing yourself in the pure nature of Luu Khiem Lake, continue to Hoa Khiem Palace, the most important architectural work in the mausoleum complex. Hoa Khiem Palace was once the place where King Tu Duc worked, received officials, and handled government affairs. The building was elaborately built with a shimmering glazed tile roof and a sturdy ironwood pillar, and inside are splendid gilded horizontal lacquered boards and parallel sentences in Chinese characters, but it still retains the typical modesty of the Nguyen Dynasty.
Hoa Khiem Palace
When you enter the palace, stand quietly for a few minutes and feel the solemnity emanating from every corner and every carefully carved truss. Listen to the tour guide tell the daily life story of the king to better understand the pressures and loneliness that a famous, gentle, and sensitive king once experienced.
Minh Khiem Duong: The Stage of Hue Royal Art
From Hoa Khiem Palace, you take a few dozen steps to reach Minh Khiem Duong, a unique and sophisticated construction that was originally the royal theatre of King Tu Duc. In particular, this place was built with a strange acoustic architecture: soft voices also echo clearly to every corner of the house. This used to be a place where kings, concubines, and princes enjoyed court songs and dances, listened to music, watched hymns, wrote, and recited.
Minh Khiem Duong
You can stand in the middle of Minh Khiem Duong, try whispering a few poems or songs, and then feel the clear sounds coming from around you, and suddenly, it feels like you are back in an ancient palace art performance, both solemn, exquisite, and poetic.
Xung Khiem Ta: The Place to Relax of the Poetry
Stepping out of Minh Khiem Duong, in front of you is a small bridge leading to Xung Khiem Ta, a water pavilion located poetically in the middle of Luu Khiem Lake. This is the place where King Tu Duc used to sit quietly, admire the scenery, write poems, drink tea, and immerse himself in nature. Xung Khien Ta is like a small, beautiful, and elegant pearl, surrounded by brilliant pink lotuses every summer.
Let’s sit here for a moment, leisurely admire the scenery, listen to the wind gently swaying the pine trees, and feel and embrace nature. In this place, you can also understand more deeply the sensitive and profound soul of the king who loved nature and poetry.
Xung Khiem Ta in the middle of Luu Khiem Lake
The area of King Tu Duc Tomb: A Place that Preserves Historical Mysteries
Leaving Xung Khiem Ta, the old brick road leads you to Buu Thanh, the area where the tomb of King Tu Duc is located. The most special thing is that this is only a symbolic location; the king’s body was actually buried secretly in a location that no one has discovered yet. The mausoleum has a simple but solemn architecture, carrying within a melancholy, quiet look.
The area of King Tu Duc Tomb
When standing in front of this symbolic resting place, take a moment to be quiet, contemplating the eventful life of the king who was famous for his literary talent but also full of misfortune and loneliness. That moment of silence is the time when you can most clearly feel the profound meaning of what King Tu Duc conveyed through this place.
Enjoy Royal Tea in the Mausoleum Grounds: Imbued with the Ancient Capital
After a journey of sightseeing and fully experiencing the beauty of Tu Duc Tomb, stop at a quiet corner in the mausoleum grounds, where you can enjoy Hue royal tea. The light scent of lotus tea, in an elegant space, blending with the ancient breath, is a wonderful moment for you to reflect on history, on the gentle yet profound beauty of beloved Hue.
Holding a cup of tea, feeling each fragrant, slightly bitter flavour spreading, your soul will slow down, feeling more deeply about Hue culture, about the ancient historical stories still hidden in this space.
Enjoy Royal Tea in the Mausoleum Grounds
How to get to the Tomb of Tu Duc
Since the tomb of Tu Duc is located 7-8 km northwest, it is easy to get there from the Hue city centre.
Motorbike
Motorbikes are the most popular and convenient means of transportation to travel around Hue because they allow you to stop along the way to take photos or sightseeing.
Suggested journey: Starting from Hue city centre, follow Dien Bien Phu Street or Bui Thi Xuan Street to the southwest to Le Ngoc Cat Street, and turn about 1.5 km to reach the Tu Duc Tomb gate. You can also use Google Maps to quickly look up this route.
The motorbike renting cost in Hue is about 100,000–150,000 VND/day.
Taxi or Grab
If you commute in the group, you can carpool in a taxi or grab to save money. Taxi Mai Linh, Thanh Cong, and Vinasun Hue are trustworthy transfers in Hue. The travel cost of a taxi from Hue city centre to the tomb of Tu Duc is about 80,000–120,000 VND/trip.
Private car
You can also rent a private car for a flexible, comfortable, and convenient transfer when you are travelling in a group. It costs about 500,000–800,000 VND/day for a 4-7 seat car. You can rent a car through the hotel or travel agent in Hue. If you are interested in this option, please contact us for more information about car rental services in Hue.
Bicycle
If you want an enjoyable and relaxing travel experience, the bicycle is the ideal choice, especially when the weather is pleasant. To get to the tomb of Tu Duc by bicycle, you can follow Dien Bien Phu or Bui Thi Xuan; both of them are beautiful and safe roads, suitable for riding a bike.
The bicycle rental cost is about 40,000–70,000 VND/day, and the journey takes about 30–45 minutes depending on the strength of the individual.
Getting to tomb of Tu Duc by bicycle
Bus
For a more economical option, you can choose the bus. Hop on the 5 route and then go off on the spot near the tomb of Tu Duc on Bui Thi Xuan Street, then take a short walk, about 1 km, to the tomb.
A ticket costs about 7,000–10,000 VND/trip. There are trips every 20 minutes.
Some helpful tips
Choose the right time
Hue is famous for its scorching heat; therefore, you should visit the tomb of Tu Duc early in the morning (7 am–9 am), when the sun is still gentle and the air is freshest, or you can visit the tomb late afternoon, from 3 pm onwards, because the gentle shine covers the things with pink colour. This is also the perfect time to enjoy completely the tranquillity and peace of the tomb.
Wear appropriate clothes
Tu Duc Tomb is a solemn and also a very poetic and gentle place, so choosing the right outfit is a way to show your respect for this place. A flowing ao dai or a discreet, elegant, gentle outfit will be very suitable, especially if you want to take photos. If you want to be more comfortable, you can wear a shirt, a long skirt, or a discreet outfit made of cool material. Don’t forget to wear a wide-brimmed hat and bring a sunshade to be both polite and convenient.
Charming ao dai in the tomb of Tu Duc
Wear comfortable shoes and prepare for a leisurely walk
The mausoleum is very spacious and has many long paved walkways, so choose a pair of soft sneakers or comfortable sandals for easy movement. A leisurely walk will help you enjoy the scenery, enjoy the quiet and relaxing space, and also avoid feeling tired too soon.
Hire a guide or use an audio guide to understand the deep story behind each construction
To make the tour more meaningful and emotional, you can hire a tour guide at the mausoleum gate or use an audio guide device. The local tour guide will tell you interesting historical stories about the life of King Tu Duc, a king with a thoughtful life, a romantic soul, a lover of nature and art, but also full of sadness of a turbulent era.
The most important thing is to walk slowly, look carefully, and feel deeply. Don’t rush, and don’t be too concerned about time. Let your soul relax and blend in with the silent and poetic space, leaving every little corner of the tomb imprinted in your memory in the gentlest yet most enduring way.
In conclusion, a visit to Tu Duc Tomb is a memorable journey to go back in time and learn about history. This is also a precious opportunity to listen more deeply to the soul of King Tu Duc, a king with a sensitive poetic soul. Please contact IDC Travel and let us be your companion on your trip to Hue, particularly to the tomb of Tu Duc.
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