The Royal Tomb of King Khai Dinh showcases an elaborate fusion of Vietnamese and European architectural styles, reflecting the transitional era of Vietnam's Nguyen Dynasty. Built between 1920 and 1931 on a hillside outside Hue for the penultimate emperor of the line, it is far smaller than the tombs of his predecessors yet incomparably more ornate, executed in darkened reinforced concrete and approached by steep flights of dragon-flanked stairs. Inside, the Thien Dinh Palace is sheathed in mosaics of broken porcelain and coloured glass beneath a painted ceiling. Part of the Complex of Hue Monuments inscribed by UNESCO in 1993, the tomb is examined here for its ornate design and its significance within Vietnam's royal heritage.
