Hue - Royal Tombs

The rest of the afternoon was spent visiting some of the Royal Tombs of former Vietnamese kings. The highlight of these tombs were the ceramic bas-reliefs in the inside walls of the palace at Khai Dinh Tomb. The designers used pieces of ceramic and found glass from beer bottles to make illustrations along the interior walls of the palace. The King Khai Dinh had twelve wives and only one son, so the tour guide was supported in his statement the king liked men much more than he liked women.

The Minh Mang tomb was much like the Citadel in terms of its architecture, with a raised, airy pavillion to view the surrounding lakes and gardens. Plants promoting longevity were growing in the garden. The vendors were selling a mixture of brandy and ginseng that allegedly promoted sexual strength for men. King Minh Mang was known for his virility with around 400 concubines and more children than whose names he could remember. No one knows exactly where the king's body is buried on the grounds, since he commanded that his body be buried in secret so that no one who may have wanted to seek revenge against him could steal his body.