Gia Long Tomb

Emperor Gia Long was born in 1762 and died in 1819. His tomb was built in 6 years, from 1814 to 1820.

Being a man of strong will who had spent his life on battlefields for over a quarter of a century (1775 – 1801), he finally unified the country and came to the throne in 1802. His tomb consequently bore witness to a military commander’s unflinching character.

When his first queen died in 1814, he ordered the construction of a double-grave tomb, one for her and another for himself.

The site chosen for the purpose was an extending hilly region, some 20km by road or by water south of the Hue Citadel. Earlier, in the area, there had been tombs of his family members. When his second queen died later in 1846, her tomb was also constructed not far from his.

Amid a vast and magnificent natural environment, Gia Long Tomb has bout 20 monuments arranged in 3 groups:

–         Central group: Double-grave tomb of the Emperor and Queen.

–         Left group: Main monument is the Stele House sheltering the stele inscribed with the Emperor’s life story and achievements.

–         Right group: Main monument is the Minh Thanh Temple dedicated to the Emperor and Queen.

Around are 42 mountains each with a name, facing the central area. Most important of these is the Great Thien Tho Mount, south of the Long Lake, which is used as a natural screen of the tomb.

A long distance from Hue city, Gia Long Tomb has been seriously damaged by war. Some basic architectural elements remain however almost intact giving us concepts of the tomb’s value.