Tomb of Minh Mang King in Hue, Vietnam

This photo is taken in Hue Old Capital. King Minh Mang, the second ruler of the Nguyen Dynasty, governed southern and central Vietnam from 1820 to 1840. From the capital at Hué, he implemented an extensive building program, which included construction of his own funeral complex in the southwest corner of the city. Set along the Perfume River, the burial site comprises 40 structures, including a building for the emperor’s clothes, pavilions for mourners, and the tomb itself. The bright colors, elaborate ornamentation, and lacquered finishes on the buildings contribute to the site’s elegance and beauty. After the king’s death in 1840, a group of guards was entrusted with the task of watching over his body and caring for the gardens. Unfortunately, this built-in maintenance program disappeared after the country divided and the monarchy was abolished. The city of Hué was badly damaged during the Vietnam War’s Tet Offensive in 1968. By the 1990s, only 20 of the 40 structures remained, and those that survived were in need of significant repair.

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