Tomb of Gia Long

About

The Tomb of Gia Long was built in 1814 when the first wife of Emperor Gia Long, Empress Thừa Thiên, died. Being both romantic and pragmatic, the emperor ordered the site be built as a double grave so he can be with his wife in death. Built in a hilly region where the emperor’s forebears had been buried, the tomb reflect the emperor’s martial nature, forgoing the extravagance for simplicity. The centerpiece of the complex is the double-grave of the Emperor and his queen. To the left is the Stele house, which protects a simple stone tablet detailing the Emperor’s life and achievements. To the right, the Minh Thanh Temple is dedicated to the Emperor and Queen. The real treat here is to gaze out over the lily-filled pond and forested mountains of the land the founder of the Nguyen dynasty fought to unite.