Thang Long Imperial Citadel - A Place Preserving Vietnam's Historical Marks

Thang Long Imperial Citadel is a massive architectural work built over many feudal dynasties of Vietnam, and is also an attractive stopover in Hanoi. Hãy nghe Trần Thuỳ Thanh Xuân (Đồng Nai) một travel blogger nổi tiếng bật mí .

1. Where is Thang Long Imperial Citadel?

The central relic site of Thang Long Imperial Citadel is located at 19C Hoang Dieu, Dien Bien Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi City.

In fact, the entire relic complex is surrounded by four roads: to the north is Phan Dinh Phung Street, to the south is Dien Bien Phu Street, to the east is Nguyen Tri Phuong Street and to the west is Hoang Dieu Street, in Dien Bien and Quan Thanh Wards, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi City.

Image source: Collected

2. Directions to Thang Long Imperial Citadel

Thang Long Imperial Citadel is located in the center of the capital, so transportation in this area is extremely convenient. You can travel by personal or public means.

- If traveling by bus, choose route number 22 to stop right in front of the Imperial Citadel gate at 19C Hoang Dieu. This is the main gate for visitors.

- If traveling by car or motorbike, from Hoan Kiem Lake, you can go in the direction of Trang Thi, then turn to Dien Bien Phu, continue to turn onto Hoang Dieu Street and go to 19C, which is the Central Relic Area of Thang Long Imperial Citadel.

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3. The glorious history of Thang Long Imperial Citadel

Thang Long Imperial Citadel is a complex of relics associated with the history of Thang Long - Dong Kinh citadel and Hanoi province. This archaeological site is a living testament to the civilization of the Red River Delta throughout 13 centuries: starting from the pre-Thang Long period around the 7th century, going through the Dinh and pre-Le dynasties, developing strongly under the Ly, Tran, post-Le dynasties, to the Nguyen dynasty and existing until today.

The glorious mark of Thang Long Imperial Citadel was formed in 1010, when King Ly Thai To issued an edict to move the capital from Hoa Lu to Dai La and ordered the construction of the Citadel as well as a series of palaces, including Thang Long Imperial Citadel.

Image source: Collected

4. Architecture of Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Hanoi

According to historical books and archaeological documents, Thang Long Citadel was built according to the model of a triple citadel, including: the outermost ring is La Thanh or Kinh Thanh - the place where residents live, the middle ring is Hoang Thanh - the court area, the place where mandarins in the court live and work, and the innermost ring is Tu Cam Thanh or Long Phuong Thanh - the place for the king, queen, and other members of the royal family.

What we still see today in the capital Hanoi is the Central Relic Area of Thang Long Imperial Citadel with an area of about 20 hectares (out of the total area of 140 hectares of the Imperial Citadel), including two areas: the Archaeological Area 18 Hoang Dieu and the Relic Area of Hanoi Citadel. Except for Bac Mon and Ky Dai, the remaining structures are only restorations and archaeological relics were found over many years.

Image source: Collected

With the historical and cultural values that this special architectural work brings, in 2010, UNESCO recognized the Central Relic Area of Thang Long Imperial Citadel as a World Cultural Heritage. At the same time, this place has also become a famous scientific research and tourist destination in Hanoi.

5. What's special about Thang Long Imperial Citadel?

When you arrive at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel relic complex, you will pass through the archaeological site at 18 Hoang Dieu and some other typical relics. Let's explore the historical, cultural and architectural highlights of Thang Long Imperial Citadel right below!

5.1. Ky Dai - Hanoi Flag Tower Thang Long Imperial Citadel

The first stop in the Imperial Citadel relic complex is Ky Dai, or commonly known as Hanoi Flag Tower. This is a monument with a tower-shaped structure, built under the Nguyen Dynasty from 1805 to 1812, at the same time as Thang Long Imperial Citadel.

The architecture of the flagpole includes three floors of the base, the column body, and the watchtower, with a total height of about 33.4m. Inside the structure, there is a spiral staircase leading to the top - where you can admire the panoramic view of Thang Long Imperial Citadel. The Hanoi Flag Tower still stands strong and sturdy to this day, and has become one of the symbols of the capital Hanoi.

Image source: Collected

5.2. Doan Mon Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

Leaving the Hanoi Flag Tower, you will reach Doan Mon, the main gate leading to the Imperial Citadel. Doan Mon has existed since the Ly Dynasty, but the architecture we see today was built by the Le Dynasty in the 15th century and restored by the Nguyen Dynasty in the 19th century.

Doan Mon is the southern citadel wall, built in an almost perfectly symmetrical arched architecture through the "divine axis", with 5 citadel gates: the largest middle gate is for the king, the remaining 4 gates are for mandarins, royal relatives, and royal relatives. This is the most checked-in location because of the grandeur and majesty of the structure.

Image source: Collected

5.3. Kinh Thien Palace, Thang Long Imperial Citadel

Starting from Doan Mon, you cross a large courtyard called Long Tri, then reach Kinh Thien Palace - the main nucleus of the Imperial Citadel relic complex. Kinh Thien Palace was built in 1428, where King Le Thai To ascended the throne, later becoming the place to hold solemn court ceremonies, hold court meetings and welcome foreign envoys. Currently, this structure only retains the foundation and two stone dragon steps. However, the vestiges found here and the pair of dragons have somewhat evoked the majestic and splendid features of Kinh Thien Palace in the past.

Image source: Collected

5.4. Hau Lau – Tinh Bac Lau Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

Hau Lau, also known as Tinh Bac Lau, is a building built behind Kinh Thien Palace, which used to be the harem - the living place of the queen, princesses, and concubines.

Hau Lau appeared after the Later Le Dynasty, built in a box-shaped architecture with three floors, combining traditional Vietnamese and French architecture. The most distinctive feature of Hau Lau is the thickness of the walls, making the rooms cool in the summer and warm in the winter. At the end of the 19th century, Hau Lau was severely damaged, and was renovated and rebuilt by the French as it is today.

Image source: Collected

5.5. Chinh Bac Mon – North Gate of Thang Long Imperial Citadel

Chinh Bac Mon, or North Gate, is one of the five gates of the ancient citadel of Hanoi under the Nguyen Dynasty, and is also the only remaining gate.

The North Gate was completed in 1805, in the style of a watchtower: the upper floor is the tower, the lower floor is the citadel. The upper floor is now the place to worship the two Governors Nguyen Tri Phuong and Hoang Dieu - who fought with the people of Hanoi to the death to protect the citadel.

Image source: Collected

5.6. Archaeological Area 18 Hoang Dieu

This is the place to give you a big picture of the culture, history, architecture, and fine arts of feudal dynasties through the relics and artifacts found after the archaeological excavation in 2002.

This area was then divided into four separate areas by the Institute of Archaeology for easy monitoring and research. There are many historical vestiges interspersed and stacked on top of each other for 13 centuries in the following order:

- The bottom floor is part of the eastern side of Dai La citadel during the Cao Bien period, Tang Dynasty.

- The next upper floor is the vestiges of the palace during the Ly - Tran Dynasty.

- The next floor is part of the central East Palace of the Le Dynasty.

- And the top floor is the center of the Hanoi provincial citadel in the 19th century, that is, during the Nguyen Dynasty.

Some antiques are displayed outdoors with a roof for visitors to visit. The sophisticated and important antiques are displayed in the basement of the National Assembly building.

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5.7. Thang Long Imperial Citadel's Palace Gate

The palace gate is where soldiers guard, to keep the king and the royal family safe. Each palace gate is a structure with an elaborate, sturdy design, enhancing the magnificence of the palace.

In the Hanoi Citadel relic site, there are still eight such palace gates. Thanks to these palace gates, the work of determining the coordinates of the palaces and the citadel walls is more accurate.

Image source: Collected

5.8. French-Style Architectural Works in Thang Long Imperial Citadel

In addition to archaeological works, the Hanoi Citadel Relic Site also has a system of French architectural works built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, now used as headquarters and agencies of the Vietnamese State.

Image source: Collected

Thang Long Imperial Citadel is not simply a historical relic, it is also a cultural heritage, the embodiment of the sacred soul of Thang Long mountains and rivers, a place that marks the process of building and defending the country of many generations of Vietnamese people. If you have the opportunity to travel to Hanoi, remember to arrange a schedule to visit Thang Long Imperial Citadel to learn more about the history of your country, as well as capture the royal moments here.