The Royal Tombs of Hue are one of the most important architectural achievements in Vietnamese history. They embody the transition from Imperial Dynasty to uneasy relationship with the West.
The Nguyen Dynasty supplied Vietnam with 13 emperors, seven of which built lavish tombs to enshrine themselves. These tombs are in the countryside southeast of Hue along either bank of the Perfume River.
Each tomb was designed by the emperor who finally rested inside, though they weren’t always built in his lifetime. Each was carefully oriented on auspicious axes, with lots of attention to lines of symmetry. The oldest tombs reflect Chinese influence, while the youngest have more in common with French architecture.
All of the tombs have certain things in common. Each has a temple with an altar where visitors can pay homage (some would say worship) the emperor. Each sports two pavilions: one for reflecting and the other to display eulogies. You’ll also find courtyards with sculptures of animals and warriors at each tomb.
In the 1950s, this complex of tombs was named as one of the World’s Wonders by a French publisher. This seemed more like an apology than anything, as most of the ‘wondrous’ contents of these tombs had been looted by the French in previous decades.
Getting There & Away
To reach Hue you can fly into the city’s domestic airport from Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi (45 minutes). As the local airport continues to upgrade, it gets easier and easier to fly in from cities across Southeast Asia as well. Once on the ground in Hue you can hire a vehicle, take a taxi or sign up with a tour of the Royal Tombs. Trains from Danang to Hue take around 3 hours, 30 minutes. The journey by bus from Hanoi takes 14 hours.