Minh Mang Tomb, formally Hieu Lang, is the burial place of Emperor Minh Mang, who took the throne when Gia Long died in 1820. It sits on Cam Ke hill near the point where the Huu Trach and Ta Trach rivers meet to form the Perfume River, and Vietnamese Wikipedia puts it 12 km from the center of Hue.
Construction started in April 1840, but Minh Mang died months later, in January 1841. His successor, Emperor Thieu Tri, sent close to 10,000 soldiers and workers to finish it to his father's plans. Minh Mang was buried there on 20 August 1841, and the work was only completed in early 1843.
An outer wall 1,750 m long encloses palaces, towers and pavilions placed symmetrically on three parallel axes, with the central Spirit Way running more than 700 m. The main gate, Dai Hong Mon, opened once, to carry the emperor's coffin in, and was then shut; you go in by the side gates. Beyond it is the salutation court, lined with stone mandarins, elephants and horses.
Past the court, Hien Duc Gate, a three-entrance wooden gate, leads into the worship area, and behind that stands Minh Lau, a square pavilion of two storeys and eight roofs.
Getting there
The tomb is about 9 km in a straight line from the Imperial City and about 7.7 km from Hue railway station; the road is longer. Phu Bai airport (HUI) is about 14.6 km away in a straight line. The Hanoi to Hue train article covers getting to Hue by rail.
Hours and fees
The heritage center uses one schedule for all its sites. These are ticket-sale hours; the gates close 60 minutes after sales stop.
| Season | Ticket sales | Gates close |
|---|---|---|
| Summer, 16 March to 15 October | 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM | 6:30 PM |
| Winter, 16 October to 15 March | 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| Ticket | Adult | Child aged 7 to 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Minh Mang Tomb only | VND 150,000 | VND 30,000 |
| Minh Mang and Gia Long tombs | VND 240,000 | VND 30,000 |
| Imperial City, Minh Mang and Khai Dinh | VND 420,000 | VND 80,000 |
| Imperial City plus three tombs | VND 530,000 | VND 100,000 |
Single-site prices apply from 2 June 2026. The Hue Imperial City ticket article works out when a route ticket saves money.
Nearby
- Khai Dinh Tomb: about 2.5 km in a straight line.
- Hue Imperial City: about 9 km in a straight line.
Questions travelers ask
Is Hue worth more than a quick stop? Someone asked r/VietNam whether to stay in Hue for a month. One reply:
"A month in Hue works if you're fine with slow rainy days and looping the same food spots. It's more than a 5-day checklist town once you're not rushing the citadel and tombs."
u/ohyespineapplepizza on r/VietNam
