Lăng Đồng Khánh

Spread throughout Hue’s quiet rural surroundings are six large and opulent tombs which remain architectural marvels to this day. The Nguyen emperors, who ruled Vietnam from 1802 to 1945, spent much of their time and immense wealth building extravagant monuments to none other than themselves. Though it can be disheartening to learn how the projects were funded by taxes squeezed from the lower classes, one thing is for certain: the Nguyen rulers had impeccable taste.

This tomb is like no other in the area: a series of climbing platforms ascend a pine-covered hill rather than a landscaped, flat esplanade. You’ll notice Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and even Cambodian architectural influences. What’s perhaps most striking is the contrast between the outside and the inside: Khai Dinh selected white concrete for the façade (now blackened by the elements), and intricate, opulent mosaics and murals for the interiors.Read more