Hue Imperial Tombs: Khai Dinh

Khai Dinh was not the last of the Nguyen dynasty, but very close. His reign, certainly a mere puppet of the French, lasted nine undistinguished years. He died in 1925, at the age of 40. His tomb is not nearly the size of Minh Mang's, but it employs European building materials and techniques along with its more traditional Vietnamese flourishes.

A hillside construction, three terraces, many steps

Thus

Guard statues

The usual stele

Main "palace"

Much intricate carving

Main altar

In the ante-hall

Khai Dinh's tomb

On a hill nearby, Our Lady of the...wait, no

Last look at the tomb of Khai Dinh

Hue Imperial Tombs: Minh Mang

Our Imperial Palace tickets were good for two of the several Imperial Tombs up the river, and another day we hired a car and driver to take us to see the tombs of the emperors Minh Mang and Khai Dinh. The former dates from the first half of the 19th century; the latter was completed just a decade before I was born. Not exactly ancient, but interesting. Two were plenty for us.

In a Zen trance, still back at the Imperial Palace, I am seeking inspiration about
which two of the several imperial tombs to visit; turns out they were printed on
the tickets

Independence--Freedom--Happiness...Socialism

Excellent signage all over, befitting a World Heritage site; and in English too

Moat

Guards

Many buildings, courtyards, stages of the visit/pilgrimage; not going to show
them all here

Stele celebrating the accomplishments of Minh Mang

One of two flanking buildings for housing Minh Mang's surviving concubines
and eunuchs; he is reputed to have had some 500 concubines...it would be
interesting to know how many eunuchs were required...

Lots of bonsai and other ornamental plants

One of two large obelisks at the final pavilion

Bridge to tomb

And across the bridge, the tomb itself

A huge stone tumulus, 285m in circumference, 3m high; the tomb is opened once
a year on Minh Mang's death anniversary

Tree vs. stone episode #28,956

Our set is complete

Spring arriving

Hue Imperial Palace, 2

Continuing our brief tour of the Imperial Palace in Hue...

Smaug

Wider views

So was he doing the rice menu or the menu Francaise?

Third Empire?

Remnant of 1968?

Another for my collection

Wall and ceiling in one of the throne rooms

Dress-up apparently is really big in Vietnam; rental costumes; here, the grand-
parents pose with the grand-children; with permission, I am snapping away,
along with the professional photog, and the parents, all laughing away....

Road not taken, maybe to the ponds, maybe to the gardens

Street lanterns; we were tired, suffering from the heat, ready to go home and
watch the riot police practice

Cyclos massing for attack: pedaled conveniences, lining up for a tour bus of
customers

One cyclo driver had been stalking us, haggling over the price; finally we
succumbed for a duo ride back to the south bank and the Little Italy resto of
our choice; it was certainly one of the more memorable rides of the last 11 years

Passing by the military history park (no thanks)

Across the historic bridge

And on, at length, to our destination; by pedal