The Mausoleum of Emperor Khai Dinh is one of the three most popular and well-maintained royal tombs in Hue. The others are the tombs of Minh Mang and Tu Duc. These tombs (plus several other attractions) make up UNESCO’s Complex of Hue Monuments. Khai Dinh’s tomb was built over 11 years from 1920 to 1931.
When I visited Hue Imperial City, I bought a 4-site combo ticket that included Khai Dinh tomb, plus the Imperial City and the tombs of Minh Mang and Tu Duc.
The 4-site combo ticket costs 530.000 VND for adults. Otherwise, an adult ticket to the Imperial City is 200.000 VND, and each tomb is 150.000 VND. You have two full days to use the combo ticket.
Important note: the ticket booths only accept cash!
For more on visiting Hue, see things to do and where to stay.
Khai Dinh Tomb Visitor Info
| Location | Google Maps |
| Hours | 6:30 AM to 6 PM (summer) / 7 AM to 5:30 PM (winter) |
| Cost (cash only!) | 150.000 VND (Adults) / 30.000 VND (Ages 7 to 12) |
| Walking tours | Hue Imperial City and tombs tours |
| How much time | Plan to spend at least 30 minutes here |
| What to wear | Dress appropriately, modest clothing (no sleeveless) |
| When to visit | Earlier is better; the afternoon gets busy |
| Official website | https://hueworldheritage.org.vn/en-us/ |
| Accessibility* | Not for people with mobility issues |
Notes and Tips on Visiting Khai Dinh Tomb
Getting there: Khai Dinh’s tomb is about 20 minutes south of Hue’s city center. I stayed at the Indochine Palace (see on Agoda / Booking) in Hue for a few days and rode my scooter to Khai Dinh’s tomb. The easiest way to get there is by using the Grab app to book a taxi. Download the app here.
I would also consider a Hue Royal Tombs Tour that visits the three best tombs, the incense village, and Thien Mu Pagoda, and includes hotel pick up and drop off. You can also look at a tour from Da Nang, like this one, which includes a train ride to Hue through the Hai Van Pass.
This was the first tomb/mausoleum that I visited in Hue, and I remember thinking how remarkable it was that it was built for one man. It’s a relatively small area (compared to the other tombs in Hue), but it’s very detailed, with a lot of sculptures, statues, and other structures.
The building at the top of the site is called Thien Dinh Palace, and it’s where the actual tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh is kept.
Once you’re at the top of the site, outside Thien Dinh Palace, there are some pretty nice views looking back over the mountains and countryside of Hue.
Of the three most popular tombs in Hue (with Tu Duc and Minh Mang), Khai Dinh’s tomb covers the smallest area. I would plan to spend about 30 minutes to one hour here.
There is a bathroom just outside the entrance, near the ticket area. There are also a couple of places to get drinks outside. Inside the tomb area, there’s another shop with drinks that also sells souvenirs.
For more photos of Khai Dinh’s tomb and area, this article has a bird’s-eye view and a lot of nice imagery. After I was done visiting the Tomb of Khai Dinh, I rode over to Minh Mang’s tomb here, which is about seven minutes away.
Klook.com
