Minh Mang Emperor's Mausoleum in Hue

Minh Mang Emperor's Mausoleum in Hue

Hue, Vietnam

Minh Mang was a Nguyen Dynasty ruler from 1829 to 1840. The construction of the tomb was started in that year, and in 1841, Minh Mang died. However, the project wasn’t finished until 1843. In 1993, it was integrated in the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Complex of Hué Monuments.

It’s located about 10 km from the center of Hue. The best way to get there is renting a scooter (~120.000 VND). Hue is busier than Ninh Binh, but riding around Hue is still much safer than in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh. Once you get out of the city it will be less chaotic.
You can leave the scooter here. It’s the private land of a Vietnamese who will kindly take care of your vehicle if you have a very cheap coffee/tea afterwards. The entrance of the mausoleum is 5 minutes walking from there.

The individual entrance fee for this tomb is 150.000 VND. However, there are interesting packages that encompass some other monuments such as the Imperial Citadel and Khai Dinh mausoleum for 420.000 VND. Depending on how many days you want to spend in Hue you can get the one that suits you better.

The mausoleum is spread over a wider area than other tombs. It’s formed by 40 constructions among temples, palaces and pavilions. However, after the Tet offensive during the Vietnam’s War, only 20 structures remained, which have had significant restoration works . In addition to this, the area where the main tomb is located is currently closed.

The harmony between the buildings and the natural environment (lake, river, pine forest) is worth-mentioning as it makes it different from the rest of imperial tombs and creates a feeling of peace. In addition to this, not too many tourists go there, so you will find it quieter than other mausoleums.

There are a lot of explanations in English and Vietnamese about the history behind it. Depending on how much you are interested in it and how fast you walk, you can spend anything from 30 minutes to 3 hours there. The opening hours go from 07:30 to 17:30 (it might vary).

The harmony between nature and the buildings make it a special place. The price is high (like the other monuments in Hue) compared to other museums / monuments in Vietnam.