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Gia Long Tomb (1814-1820)

The tomb of Emperor Gia Long is the southernmost of the Nguyen dynasty tombs and the furthest away from the center of Hue. Because of its relative distance, it is one of the least visited. It is also one of the most neglected--Gia Long is detested by the present regime for his despotism and indifference to the common people (one guidebook remarks that Gia Long "carried home the snake that killed the chicken", referring to the foothold the French gained in Vietnam during his reign).

As the first Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty, Gia Long's choice of burial sites established the architectural pattern that his successors adopted for their own tombs. The tomb of Gia Long and his primary wife are enclosed within a walled quadrangle, which is approached from a series of terraces that slope down toward a ceremonial courtyard flanked with the stone statues of animals and government officials. Just to the south of the courtyard is a lake. On the opposite shore are two huge, ruined obelisks that jut into the sky. To the west of this ensemble is an ancestral temple in remarkably well-preserved condition. To the east of the tomb is a ruined stele pavilion housing an epitaph in stone of Gia Long's reign, composed by his son Minh Mang (who would later rule as Emperor).

Scattered in the surrounding landscape are smaller tombs and temples dedicated to others in Gia Long's life, such as his second wife.

Location

The approximate location of the tomb is 16.361804' N, 107.596474' E (WGS 84 map datum).