Hue

Mausoleum of Emperor Tu Duc

SATURDAY 23 JULY 2011



After an early breakfast I went on a tour of the city to see three of the seven Royal Mausoleums built by the Nguyen emperors in the valley of the Perfume River. We first visited Minh Mang’s Mausoleum which was built between 1841 and 1843, using 10,000 workmen. The next temple was that of Khai Dinh who reigned from 1920 – 1931. His Mausoleum is a mixture of baroque and very ornamental Sino-Vietnamese style. We then went to a Marshall Arts display, which was excellent after which we stopped at some stalls where incense sticks and conical hats were being made.

The third Mausoleum we visited was that of Tu Duc with it’s beautiful pavilions built among lakes. Tu Doc enjoyed coming here to write philosophy and poetry and drink tea from dew collected in lotus blossoms. He also liked fifty-course meals and had 104 wives, not to mention a load of concubines as well!

Martial Arts Display

After lunch, we visited the Citadel of Hue where I met Sarlit, who had been with me on the bus yesterday, and she told me what had delayed us yesterday was another train had fallen over and buckled the rails. Our train didn’t get in until about 10 p.m., over 12 hours late.  I wasn't surprised, as the train had not felt very safe at all.

After the citadel, we went to the Thien Mu Pagoda, before catching a boat to take us back down the river.

Incense sticks