Tomb of Gia Long

The Tomb of Gia Long is the mausoleum of Emperor Gia Long, founder of the Nguyen Dynasty, on Thien Tho Mountain in Huong Tho Commune, Huong Tra Town, about 20 km west of Hue. Built between 1814 and 1820, it is the first and most remote Nguyen royal tomb. Set in pine forest near the Ta Trach River, it belongs to the UNESCO-listed Complex of Hue Monuments and is noted for its natural landscape and feng shui setting.

Visitors can expect a remote, tranquil tomb complex set in pine forest and natural hills near the Ta Trach River, about 20 km from central Hue. The site includes the double burial area of Emperor Gia Long and Empress Thua Thien Cao, courtyards, stele pavilion, temples and surrounding pine-covered landscape. The tomb is less restored and less crowded than other Nguyen tombs, offering a quiet, natural environment with walking paths between structures.

Built from 1814 to 1820 for Emperor Gia Long (1762-1820), founder and first emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty (reigned 1802-1820). It is the first mausoleum constructed for a Nguyen emperor and contains the joint burial of the emperor and his first wife Empress Thua Thien Cao. The tomb reflects early Nguyen funerary planning and is part of the Complex of Hue Monuments inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage in 1993.

Represents Nguyen Dynasty funerary architecture and traditional Vietnamese feng shui principles in site selection, with mountain and river setting. As part of the Complex of Hue Monuments, it illustrates imperial rituals, ancestor veneration and the cultural landscape of the Nguyen court. The relatively untouched natural setting preserves the original harmony between architecture and nature intended for royal tombs.