Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

It is said that the first construction that was made in the premises of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long was in the 7th century by Chinese. Most parts of Chinese construction have been destroyed. The place was renamed Thang Long in the 10th century when the Chinese lost control over Vietnam. This beautiful citadel was built on the top of old fortress, the founding stone of the same was laid down in 1010 by the Ly Dynasty and it was later expanded by Tran dynasty which ruled Vietnam from 1225 to 1400. The citadel was further constructed during the reign of Nguyen dynasty who came in power in 1805 in Vietnam. You can see various amalgamations of architectures in the building premises as each ruler has contributed to the beauty and history of this place. The original citadel was a huge complex with many historical buildings but it was ruined to pieces by the conquest of French in the later 19th century.


The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2010 to protect the remaining ruins, the history and old relics that were excavated from this place.

The complex of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long comprises of an old fortress and on top of that, the main citadel complex has been built which reflects the true Vietnamese architecture. One of the most important constructions made on this site was  Kinh Thien Palace in 1428, but sadly only the palace steps which have a sculptor of a dragon built on it and the foundation of the palace remains today for us to see.

The main Northern Gate of the complex was built in 1805 which is a reflection of the modern architecture in Vietnam. There is also a museum in the premises which showcases the old ruins and relics sound from the site. It was built in 2010.

Flag Tower at Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

One of the most prominent structures of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is the Hanoi flag tower. It is a 41 m long tower which represents the symbol of the Hanoi city. It was built during the era of Nguyen dynasty in 1812. When most of the historic structures were destroyed by the French, it was spared because it was used as the military post by French.

D-67 Tunnel and House

This is probably the most interesting part of the complex, although it does not constitute under the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. A small house located at the back of the complex which is called D67. Interestingly, it was the meeting point of the communists during the Vietnam war where the policies and planning took place. A series of stairs take you to the 9 m deep underground bunker which was built to protect the leaders from the attack. It has a striking story connected to it which makes you feel like you a part of the history when you are here. The house has been restored in the original position with the meeting room and other thing kept intact till date.

Central Sector of the Hanoi Citadel

The central sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is the main building and also the part which has been enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage sites. It is built on the top of 7th-century old Chinese fortress. The structure is a reflection of the South Asian architecture and culture with the pagoda structure adorning the top of the central sector. This is the very place which was the centre of the regional political power for the continuous period of 13 years.

One of the reasons why the complex of Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is given so much of importance is because it has been a historical site from where the ancient ruins and relics, belonging to the different civilizations, have been extracted. A number of artefacts belonging to the Dai La period have been found when the site was the administrative seat during the Chinese rule of the Tang dynasty. A lot of ruins and relics have been inscribed with the images of dragons, Phoenix and Mandarin ducks which are considered very important in the Chinese culture. Tiles, bricks with inscriptions have been dug out which are a poof of the Chinese rule in Vietnam.

A number of foreign artefacts including old vases, ceramics, wine bottles belonging to the 8th and 9th century have been found. To reflect the ancient era of the rulers who ruled Vietnam, a proof of gold jewellery, areca knife, and lime pots belonging to the kingdom of various rulers of Vietnam have also been found. All these artefacts give insights into the history of Vietnam. A large variety of bricks and tiles have been also found which were probably used in the olden times for the construction. These remains are offered for display in the museum and much of it still remains undiscovered.

The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is located in the heart of Hanoi, close to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Hoan Kiem Lake. Located on Hoang Dieu Street in Quan Thanh, Ba Dinh, Buses Tuyen 22A, 45 and 50 can be taken to reach the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.