Khai Dinh imperial tomb belongs to Thuy Bang commune, Huong Thuy district, Thua Thien Hue province, far from Hue city center about 10 km. In comparison with other tombs in Hue, Khai Dinh tomb is rather small but the time for finishing this project is longest about 11 years; it also most spent money and effort. Here is the tomb of Khai Dinh King (1885-1925) - the 12th king of Nguyen Dynasty. The big difference of this tomb with another is that it has influence of various architectures, especially deep effect of the West. Therefore Khai Dinh tomb is original compared to traditional architectural works of Viet Nam.

General project of Khai Dinh tomb is the rectangle with 127 steps. Building from the combination of culture the West and the East, almost places here has European architecture in the century XIX. You will see the iron doors, light system, enameled tile…in this tomb; it’s rarely to see traditional materials for example wood, stone, brick and lime…
The main architectural work of Khai Dinh Tomb is Thien Dinh palace; this is the highest one as well as most meticulously built. All of interior in Thien Dinh palace was decorated by reliefs which make from glazed terra-cotta, porcelain and glass. The people who take main responsibility for constructing the artistic masterpiece in Khai Dinh tomb is artisan named Phan Van Tanh. He is author of three biggest wall-paintings in Viet Nam named “Nine dragons hide cloud”. These three wall-paintings decorated on 3 central spaces of Thien Dinh palace. According to the assessment of experts, Khai Dinh Tomb is the pinnacle symbol for plastic arts of glazed terra-cotta, porcelain and glass. In addition, there is one bronze statue which sculpted Khai Dinh King sitting. The appearance of king’s statue in tomb is the special thing n comparison with others.

Khai Dinh tomb is really a valuable work about art and architecture which have a part in making tomb system in Hue abundant and diversified.