The second son of King Thieu Tri, Tu Duc was a lover of poetry who designed this mausoleum to serve as his eternal pleasure garden. Surrounded by a 1.5km wall, the mausoleum occupies an attractive site which is home to around 50 buildings dotted over a 12ha area. Tu Duc reigned for 35 years, from 1848-83. He supervised the works himself and often spent time here, away from the court. Construction of the mausoleum lasted from 1864-67 and required the labour of 6 000 soldiers and workers.