King Gia Long’s Mausoleum will continue to benefit from restoration efforts to serve the tourism industry.

The project, launched by the centre with total expenditure reaching VND70 billion (US$4 million), was approved by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

It included restoring the house of stone steles and the three-door gate of Minh Thanh Temple.

The first stage of the plan saw work on Minh Thanh Temple where King Gia Long and his first queen worshipped, as well as statues and temples. The electricity system and grounds were also improved.

The centre plans to restore other constructions in the complex, such as ponds, pillars, the king’s grave, Gia Thanh Temple and Thien Tho Huu Tomb where Queen Thuan Thien – King Gia Long’s second wife and the mother of King Minh Mang – worshipped.

Located 15km from Hue, King Gia Long Tomb (also known as Thien Tho Tomb) is an imposing structure in a large park with over 3,000 pine trees.

The tomb complex, which covers 28sq.km and 42 hills, was built between 1814-20 and includes eight royal tombs of the king, queens, and the king’s relations. It is the largest tomb complex of the Nguyen dynasty.

Gradually destroyed by war and weather, the royal tomb complex was selected for restoration so it could become a good tourist destination, director of the centre Phung Phu said.

VietNamNet/VNS