The Tomb of Gia Long is hard to get to, but tourists who make the effort are rewarded with seclusion and a first-hand look at the template for all of the Royal Tombs of Hue.
The lack of visitors to this tomb should not be interpreted to mean it isn’t worth your while. On the contrary, historians say the Tomb of Gia Long is the most significant of Hue’s Royal Tombs. Its namesake was the founding emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty and the first to be interred in an opulent shrine.
Gia Long was unpopular when he lived, and the Vietnamese still loathe him today. He was a close ally of the French, viewed as a tyrant who valued personal gain above the people he ruled. To this day, the tomb is intentionally neglected to spite his memory, and visitors will find it overgrown and dilapidated.
The atmosphere is eerie and fascinating. But visitors who can see through the rubble will understand how this tomb was a template for those to come. All of the main elements are here, from the triple gate and Stele House to the pavilions, gardens and reflective ponds.
Getting There & Away
This is the hardest of the Royal Tombs to get to, largely because it’s off the beaten track and taxi drivers know they’re unlikely to get a fare back. The best way to go is to charter a taxi by the hour from Hue so that the driver will wait while you explore the tomb. Hue houses the nearest airport with connections to Hanoi (45 minutes), Ho Chi Minh City and select Asian capitals. Hue also services rail and bus links to major cities such as Danang (3 hours, 30 minutes).