Tomb of Khai Dinh

The Tomb of Khai Dinh is located in Chau Chu on a steep hill outside of the capital city of Hue. It was built for Khai Dinh, the twelfth Emperor of the Nguyen dynasty. It was built from 1920 to 1931 taking 11 years to complete. The tomb is a blend of Western and Eastern architecture. It is located
Khai Dinh’s tomb is different to the other tombs around Hue because of it's architectural fusion of Chinese, Vietnamese, and European Gothic elements. There are fierce dragons guarding the steps, stone elephants and warriors outside and the wrought iron gates at the entrance.

As the exterior is iron and stone you get a surprise when you walk inside which has some of the Emperor’s personal effects and gifts, as well as incredibly intricate patterns of ceramic and glass decorating the walls.

The tomb is less a monument to the Emperor himself but more a monument to his excessive wealth and disconnect from the ordinary man.

Khai Dinh was reputed to be a pawn of the colonial French so much so he was mocked as a salaried employee of the French government. He taxed his people heavily to finance the building.Read more