An Bang - The City of Billion VND Tombs
An Bằng – The City of Million-Dollar Tombs
Just 36 kilometers from the bustling center of Hue lies a hidden coastal village that rarely appears in guidebooks, yet quietly captivates curious travelers from around the world. This is An Bằng, located in Vinh An Commune, Phu Vang District—a place where the rhythm of the sea meets history, and where the past seems to whisper through every street and shoreline.
Once a tranquil fishing village, An Bằng has gradually gained an almost strange reputation, earning hauntingly poetic nicknames such as “The City of Ghosts” or “The City of Tombs.” Unlike any ordinary village, its landscape is dotted with hundreds of intricately designed mausoleums. Crafted from gleaming marble, adorned with delicate ceramic inlays, crowned with palatial domes, and guarded by gates shaped like dragons, these tombs even feature lighting systems that illuminate them at night. Bathed in sunlight by day and caressed by the sea breeze, they stand like luxurious villas, not for the living, but for those who have passed on.
Walking among these monumental tombs, one can’t help but feel a mixture of awe and curiosity. Each structure tells a story of devotion, artistry, and status, reflecting the Vietnamese tradition of honoring ancestors in the most elaborate way possible. As the Daily Mail once vividly put it: “Welcome to the City of Ghosts, where the dead rest in luxury.” Here, in An Bằng, history, culture, and the extraordinary intersect, creating a place that is at once eerie, beautiful, and utterly unforgettable.
A Paradoxical Contrast
In An Bằng, death is not the end, but an essential part of life and belief. People don’t wait until they pass to build their tombs. They prepare well in advance, carefully planning every detail. To them, it’s an expression of filial piety and a hope for eternal remembrance.
Perhaps the greatest fear here isn’t death—but being forgotten.
Uniquely, An Bằng has even developed an unusual profession: tomb caretaking. Locals are hired to clean, trim the grass, and light incense at graves regularly. As a result, unlike typical cemeteries that often feel gloomy and neglected, An Bằng is bright, well-kept, and oddly peaceful—like a miniature city whose residents have all passed on.
Although outsiders often criticize this lifestyle—"living modestly, dying extravagantly"—to the people of An Bằng, it’s not about vanity. It’s a philosophy of life—and death—shaped by deep cultural values, in their own quietly eccentric way.
How to Visit the “City of Tombs”
From Hue City, there are two main routes to reach An Bang Village:
Via National Highway 49:
From Hue, follow National Highway 49 toward Thuan An Beach, then continue along the coastal road for about 30 km until you reach Vinh An Commune. From there, you can ask locals for directions to the tomb area.
Via the Da Nang direction:
From Hue, head toward Da Nang for about 16 km until you reach Thuy Phu Commune. At the Hue Bypass intersection, turn left toward Truong Ha Bridge. After crossing the bridge, turn right toward Vinh An Commune, where you can ask locals for the way to the tomb complex.
Both routes are similar in distance.
Hue is a treasure trove of fascinating stories and surprises. The more you explore, the more it reveals. When you visit Hue, make sure to stop by An Bang Village for a deeper appreciation of this historic imperial land.
