Gia Long Tomb is the first/oldest imperial mausoleum in Hue. It’s the burial place of Gia Long king, founder of the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945), his wifes, and his family members. Now, let’s HoiAn Day Trip Company tell everything that you need to know about Gia Long Tomb in Hue.
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• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
Must Knows about Gia Long Tomb
– Location/Address: Dinh Mon village, Long Ho ward, Hue City, Vietnam
– Other name(s): Tomb of Gia Long Emperor, Mausoleum of Emperor Gia Long, Thien Tho Lang (Museum of the Heaven and Longevity)
– Opening hours: 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM (summer/dry season), 7 AM to 5 PM (winter/rainy season)
– Entrance fee: 150,000 VND for adult (2024)
– Reason(s) to visit: one of the best royal tombs in Hue, harmonious architecture between natural and man-made elements
– Time to spend: 1-1,5 hours
– Best time to visit: anytime of the day
– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)
– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/gia-long-tomb-hue-vietnam
– Recognition(s): Unesco world heritage site (1993), national heritage (27th September 1997)
– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)
– Food & drink: only drink available
– Shopping: no
Gia Long Tomb on Map
Better to Know about Gia Long King
Gia Long king is known as the founder of the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945). He was borned on 8th February 1762 at Hue, with birth name ‘Nguyen Phuc Anh’, the third son of Nguyen Phuc Luan prince (1733-1765) and his wife Nguyen Thi Hoan (1738-1811). His grandfather was Nguyen Phuc Khoat, the 8th Nguyen lord who ruled southern Vietnam from 1714 to 1765. On 3rd February 1840, at age of 59, Gia Long king passed away and his fourth child Nguyen Phuc Dam succeeded the throne, and became Minh Mang king.
On 1st May 1802, following a sacrifice to heaven and earth, Nguyen Phuc Anh became an emperor. He chose Hue as the capital which lies in the middle of the country, and chosen his era name as ‘Gia Long’, a combination of first word of Gia Dinh (former name of Saigon and Ho Chi Minh city, north Vietnam’s center) and the second word of Thang Long (former name of Hanoi, south Vietnam’s center).
Name of the newly-unified country was named ‘Viet Nam’ by Gia Long king, for the first time ever. Previously, he joined the tributary system of China and requested to have ‘Nam Viet’ for his country but was refused then by the Chinese emperor. In the past, Nam Viet (Chinese: Nanyue) was used for a state in China.
On 12nd May 1806, the ‘official’ coronation ceremony of Gia Long king took place at Thai Hoa Palace within the Imperial City of Hue. He built this complex from summertime in 1804.
In his life, Gia Long king had 21 wifes, 13 sons and 18 daughters.
History & Architecture of Gia Long Tomb in Hue
Gia Long Tomb was constructed from 1814 to 1820, to bury Gia Long king who established the Nguyen dynasty and his family members. Its location is in the upstream of the Perfume River, near the burial places of Nguyen lords, and discovered by Le Duy Thanh (geomancer), the last son of Le Quy Don scholar. According to history books, five-colored soil was found here. The site where present-day Khai Dinh Tomb is situated, although well-fitted to feng shui principles, was refused. For advisors, if building a tomb here, it would be struck by lightning. Expeditions to discover suitable sites began when Gia Long’s first wife died on 21st February 1814 and he wanted to construct a tomb for her. His successors also selected a piece of land in this part of Hue for their own mausoleums.
Design and construction of the Mausoleum of Gia Long were under monitoring of Gia Long king. Because he was a military leader before coronation, therefore his tomb did not have a protected wall (like Minh Mang Tomb or Tu Duc Tomb), to reach a high level of freedom, liberty, and immersion into nature. 85 boundary markers were derived to let people know its holy ground.
In the centre of Gia Long Tomb Complex, there are Minh Thanh Palace, Tomb of Gia Long king and his first wife Thua Thien queen, and the Stele House. Each sits atop a low hill named Bach Son or ‘White mountain’, ‘Chanh Trung Son’ or ‘Main and Central mountain’, and Thanh Son or ‘Green mountain’ respectively. Their axis is parallel to each other. In their front, there is ‘Moon lake’, an artificial lake filled with lotus in the summer. Behind this lake, there are two tall brick pillars, wooded hills and mountains. The greatest mountain is Thien Tho Son or the ‘Heaven and Longevity mountain’, the protective screen of the whole tomb complex in the front. It’s one of 42 hills and mountains that surround Gia Long Tomb, creating an area of 28km2. This tomb has the most majestic nature.
After buying a ticket and walking along the lakeshore for a while, visitors will see Minh Thanh Palace on the top of the staircase on the left hand side. This temple is dedicated to worship the emperor and his first wife Thua Thien queen. Two most important ceremonies taking place here in the year are his birthday on the 15th day of the first lunar month, and his day of death on the 19th day of 12nd lunar month. On the right and left sides of the courtyard between the temple and its gate, there are two small shrines. Both of them are used to worship literature and military mandarins who assisted the king to end the civil war and then unify the country or worked in his reign. Behind the main worshipping hall, a small building existed, to store the costume of the queen.
Not far away from the temple, there are tombs of Gia Long king and his first wife Thua Thien queen. Both of them have the same size, same style, and same material that are next to each other, expressing their permanent love and inseparate relationship. To see them, visitors need to climb a 7-level staircase from a yard with 7 standing stone statues on each side (including one elephant, one horse, five military and literature mandarins). This staircase is huger than any other imperial mausoleums in Hue. The tombs are within two layers of walls.
On another hill, the Stele House has the ‘Stele of Divine Merits and Sacred Virtues’ on which 780 Chinese words are carved, to honor merits and virtues of Gia Long king. This essay was composed by his fourth son/successor Minh Mang king (ruled Vietnam from 1820 to 1840). The memorial stele is a piece of fine stone with a height of 2,96 meters and a width of 1 meter, placed on a stone base with dragon carvings.
From 2020 to 2023, main constructions of Gia Long Tomb were restored and opened to visitors.
Within the Complex of Gia Long Tomb, visitors can see other tombs and temples that belong to members in Gia Long king’s family:
– Thien Tho Huu Tomb (or ‘Right-hand Heaven and Longevity Tomb’): the mausoleum of Gia Long’s 2nd wife Thuan Thien queen who lived from 1216 to 1248.
– Gia Thanh Palace: temple for worship of Thuan Thien queen, the second wife of Gia Long king. 50 meters away from her tomb.
– Truong Phong Tomb: the mausoleum of Nguyen Phuc Chu, the 7th Nguyen lord who ruled southern Vietnam from 1725 to 1738.
– Thoai Thanh Tomb: the mausoleum of Gia Long king’s mother who lived from 1736 to 1811.
– Hoang Co Tomb: the mausoleum of Gia Long king’s older sister
Tips to Visit Gia Long Tomb in Hue
– Visitors must wear respectively to visit Gia Long Tomb, a holy/solemn place. In other words, it’s needed to wear clothes which cover armpits, navel, shoulder, breast, and upper knees. See-through clothings is not accepted.
– If want to sightsee other historical monuments besides Gia Long Tomb, visitors should buy a combo ticket, to save money. ‘Minh Mang Tomb & Gia Long Tomb’ combo costs 240,000 VND/adult and children above 12 years old. See more information & details
– Visitors do not need to take shoes off, but need to remove sun glasses and hat/cap.
– In the dry season, visitors should bring sun cream, sun glasses, bottles of water, and a hat/cap or umbrella. If don’t have, it’s easy to find one(s) of them in shops around Gia Long Tomb.
– In the rainy season, visitors need to remove rain poncho/jacket, and close the umbrella. After that, hang it on the rack.
– Visitors are not allowed to take pictures inside temples in Gia Long Tomb.
– Gia Long Tomb is a worshipping place, so visitors can not make noise (like talking loud, laughing, singing, dancing,…) or sit inside it. Instead, nearby gardens are better places to have a seat and take a rest under tree shade.
– Visitors do not touch on any worshipping objects in temples of Gia Long Tomb. Only members of the Nguyen royal family can burn incense sticks and do ceremonies here, not visitors. Visitors can put the incense stick in the urn outside.
– It’s better to visit Gia Long Tomb with a guide. Contact us by +84968009827 if you need a private tour guide in Hue/Da Nang/Hoi An.
– Toilets are outside the protective wall of Gia Long Tomb.
– Gia Long Tomb is the most peaceful ‘major’ royal tomb in Hue. On the way to this place, visitors will see unspoiled rural areas where people plant grapefruit, pineapple, or fig tree.
– It’s possible to reach Gia Long Tomb by boat, but it’s much easier if go by car or motorbike.
How to Get to Gia Long Tomb in Hue
Gia Long Tomb is located in Long Ho ward, Phu Xuan district, Hue city, Vietnam (formerly Huong Tho commune, Huong Tra town).
HOIAN DAY TRIP Company daily organizes tours and transfers in Hue, Da Nang, and Hoi An. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Photos, Videos about Gia Long Tomb
Here are beautiful photos and videos about Gia Long Tomb:
