An Bang Cemetery is a peaceful fishing village located in An Bang Village, Vinh An, Phu Vang, Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam. This is the location where the deceased are buried in billion-dollar graves. The Daily Mail (UK) described it as an eerie, colorful, and expensive. This City of Ghosts is a one-of-a-kind location that providesa look into Vietnam’s vibrant afterlife.
– Opening Hours: Always open
– Entrance Fee: Free
1. Where is An Bang Cemetery?
An Bang Cemetery is located in a suburban village about 30 kilometers east of Hue city. The cemetery may be reached by driving the 49 highway from Hue City to Thuan An beach and then continuing along the coastal route for about 30 kilometers to Vinh An commune. It spans around 250 hectares and is located close to a stunning, deserted sandy beach.
2. Why is An Bang Cemetery known as the Ghost City?
An Bang town was once a poor fishing village, and the people’s living here is primarily dependent on fishing near the sea. Following Vietnam’s reunification in 1975, many An Bang Village people moved to Europe and the United States. They then transferred money back to their relatives who had remained behind after successfully finishing their business. People here have became better off since then, and they have begun to consider erecting the tombs in honor of filial piety. The construction of huge mausoleums in the cemetery began in earnest in 1995, and since then, the local villagers have been building increasingly spectacular graves. The locals constructed the tombs for their deceased relatives, or occasionally even for themselves.
There were fierce competitions among the village’s families. It show their position and properties in the village. They attempted to make their ancestors’ tombs as attractive and luxurious as the neighboring tombs in order to bring glory to the family. This represents not only the citizens’ current lifestyle, but also their profound belief in the afterlife and the necessity of honoring their ancestors.
3. What can you see in An Bang Cemetery?
An Bang Cemetery stretches hundreds of meters and is Vietnam’s largest cemetery. This is stunning enough on its own, but there’s more. An Bang Cemetery’s design and patterns resemble those of a Gaudà masterpiece. It will overwhelm you with its abundance of majestic stone lions and brilliant mosaic dragons, unicorns, and phoenixes inlaid on the roof ridges. This cemetery’s tombs are a wonderful combination of Buddhist, Taoist, Catholic, Vietnamese, Chinese, or Western styles. However, according to the village elders, the majority of the tombs in Hue’s Ghost Town were designed after King Khai Dinh’s mausoleum. Then, they give or take according to the specific preferences of each owner.
These constructions frequently rise two or three floors high; several new tombs were built up to ten meters high. It comes equipped with completely working bedrooms, baths, and kitchens. Ancient motifs of mascots such as dragons, phoenixes and unicorns were once reserved for emperors, but they may now be seen in numerous tombs here. On the stone steps, the mascots protect the tombs with majestic and imposing presence.
Families in the village spend up to $70,000 on gorgeous mausoleums for their relatives. This is a large sum of money, especially considering that the average annual salary in Vietnam is approximately $2,000.
4. How to get here?
If you have the time to visit this location, it will be an unforgettable Vietnam vacation experience. It is located in a suburban village around 30 kilometers from Hue City. As a result, the most efficient way to go to the cemetery is by motorcycle or private car. Furthermore, it is close to popular tourist attractions such Thanh Toan Bridge, Thuan An beach, Tam Giang lagoon, and so on. You can also visit the cemetery while going from Hue to Danang or Hoi An. This way, you’ll avoid the hottest portion of the day and return to Hue to enjoy a stunning sunset over the rice fields. Please contact Explore Vietnam for additional information.