The Last Fortress: Discovering the Historic Son Tay Citadel

Delve into the history and architectural significance of the ancient Son Tay Citadel, highlighting its enduring legacy as the largest surviving fortress in Hanoi. Hãy nghe Vũ Mai Ngọc Ánh (Hà Nội) một travel blogger nổi tiếng bật mí .

The thousand-year-old capital of Hanoi is renowned for its many historical sites, including the ancient Son Tay Citadel, known for its unique and timeless architecture. As the largest surviving citadel in Hanoi, it draws thousands of visitors who come to explore its rich historical beauty.

                                                                                                                  Source: Collector

In 1461, during the reign of King Le Thanh Tong, the administrative unit "Son Tay thua tuyen" was officially established. Initially, the provincial seat was located in La Pham village, Tien Phong district, Quang Oai prefecture (now part of Tan Hong commune, Ba Vi district).

During the reign of Le Canh Hung (1740 - 1786), the provincial seat was moved to a higher area with rolling hills in Mong Phu village, Cam Gia district, Phuc Loc prefecture, Quoc Oai province (now part of Duong Lam commune, Son Tay town) due to flooding. In the third year of King Minh Mang's reign (1822), the provincial seat was relocated to the areas of Mai Trai and Thuan Nghe villages in Minh Nghia district (later known as Tung Thien), which is the present-day center of Son Tay town.

Over time, many structures of the old provincial capital have been destroyed. The only remaining relic is the ancient Son Tay Citadel, which was built in 1822, the third year of Minh Mang's reign.

                                                                                                                  Source: Collector

The Son Tay Citadel was a military fortress constructed using laterite stone (a distinctive building material of the Son Tay region). It has a square layout, each side measuring about 400 meters, and stands 5 meters high. The citadel was built in the Vauban style, a type of military architecture named after the French engineer Vauban.

The citadel is quadrilateral in shape, with trapezoidal cross-sections, the base of the walls being 6 meters wide and the top 4 meters wide. There are multiple holes at the top for soldiers to fire guns or use long-handled spears to fend off enemies climbing the walls.

The citadel has four main gates: the main South gate called the Tien gate, the main North gate called the Hau gate, and the main East and West gates. Each gate is topped with a watchtower (vong lau) and has only one entrance. Outside, there is a pyramid-shaped Dương mã thành (also known as Mang ca) protecting the outer walls. Surrounding the citadel is a moat, 3 meters deep, 20 meters wide, and approximately 1,795 meters long, connected to the Tich River at the southwestern corner of the citadel.

                                                                                                                  Source: Collector

Over nearly 200 years, through wars and the ravages of time, much of the Son Tay Citadel has been destroyed, leaving only the walls, the Tien and Hau gates, two cannons, and some remnants like the watchtowers, the foundation of the Kinh Thien Palace, and the water well.

As you conclude your visit to the ancient Son Tay Citadel, the image of century-old trees with long roots embracing the moss-covered gates and the majestic, enduring architecture of the fortress will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression.

Vũ Mai Ngọc Ánh (Hà Nội)