{"id":10192,"date":"2022-01-25T22:07:33","date_gmt":"2022-01-25T14:07:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=10192"},"modified":"2022-04-05T10:24:59","modified_gmt":"2022-04-05T02:24:59","slug":"thang-long-imperial-citadel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/thang-long-imperial-citadel\/","title":{"rendered":"Th\u0103ng Long Imperial Citadel: From 8th-Century Relics To An Enormous Excavation Site"},"content":{"rendered":"

Th\u0103ng Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi, Vietnam<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Compared to the famous <\/span>Hu\u1ebf Imperial Citadel<\/span><\/a> built in the Nguy\u1ec5n Dynasty (1802-1945), <\/span>Th\u0103ng Long Imperial Citadel<\/b>, which was constructed in 1011, is much less hyped by travelers. Due to plenty of wars spanning from the French colonial rule to the Japanese occupation to the Vietnam War, the citadel went through major destruction and renovations.<\/span><\/p>\n

For this reason, you\u2019ll see only a very limited number of imperial structures boasting Vietnamese vernacular elements at the citadel. However, if you’re keen to know more about Vietnam\u2019s architecture and arts in the form of ruins and relics dating back to more than 1,000 years ago, this place won\u2019t disappoint.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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History of Th\u0103ng Long Imperial Citadel<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\nImage credit: <\/span>TripAdvisor<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

First constructed in 1011 under the reign of Emperor L\u00fd Th\u00e1i T\u1ed5, Th\u0103ng Long Imperial Citadel features a spacious complex of structures and museums that spans 18,395 hectares.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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This citadel was the imperial capital of Vietnam for over 700 years until the Nguy\u1ec5n Dynasty moved the capital to Hu\u1ebf in 1810. After continuous wars throughout the 19th and 20th century, the citadel was nearly destroyed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Today, visitors to Th\u0103ng Long Imperial Citadel can still visit the remaining structures of the ancient city and museums where ancient artifacts excavated from the former kingdom are displayed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"The building where you can buy an entrance ticket<\/em><\/p>\n

On 31st July 2010, the central part of Th\u0103ng Long Imperial Citadel was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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– Places to visit inside the complex –<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\u0110oan M\u00f4n Gate – the entrance to the citadel since 1121<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Situated to the south of King Thien Palace,<\/span> \u0110oan M\u00f4n Gate<\/b> is one of the 5 remaining structures on the grounds of Th\u0103ng Long Imperial Citadel that have been around since 1121.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Two of the gates were built in the Vietnamese vernacular style, featuring 3-tiered roofs.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Consisting of five stone arched gates, \u0110oan M\u00f4n Gate was formerly used as the entrances for the royal family and mandarins.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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At the top of the middle gate, you\u2019ll find a stone signage with an inscription that spells \u201c\u0110oan M\u00f4n\u201d, or \u7aef\u9580, in Sino-Vietnamese characters. This inscription is believed to trace back to the L\u00fd Dynasty (1009-1225).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Walking through one of the gates, you\u2019ll see a staircase leading to the upper deck.<\/span><\/p>\n

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From the upper deck, which is decked out with many archways and yellow lanterns, you\u2019ll enjoy a widespread view of the entire citadel ground, as well as the iconic <\/span>Flag Tower of Hanoi.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

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K\u00ednh Thi\u00ean Hall – the central part of the citadel<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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\nK\u00ednh Thi\u00ean Hall in 1886 during the French occupation<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit: <\/span>Wikipedia<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Constructed in 1428 during the reign of Emperor L\u00ea Th\u00e1i T\u1ed5, K\u00ednh Thi\u00ean Hall was completed during the reign of Emperor L\u00ea Th\u00e1nh T\u00f4ng (1442-1497). <\/span>This is where Emperor L\u00ea Th\u00e1i T\u1ed5\u2019s coronation also took place in 1428.<\/span><\/p>\n

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This place was reserved for ceremonial purposes as well as day-to-day state affairs.<\/p>\n

Although K\u00ednh Thi\u00ean Hall held the most significant role in the history of Th\u0103ng Long Imperial Citadel, unfortunately, there\u2019s no longer much to see here.<\/p>\n

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\nImage adapted from Gryffindor\/Wikimedia Commons<\/a> and manhhai<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

In 1886, a large part of the entire hall was destroyed by French colonists to make room for a military fortress. All that is left here today are the stairs leading to the hall and its foundation.<\/p>\n

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At the site, you\u2019ll spot two stone dragons flanking the stairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

These dragons were sculpted in 1467 during the L\u00ea Dynasty and made of solid stone. Each features five claws, symbolizing the Emperor\u2019s supreme authority.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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H\u1eadu L\u00e2u Palace – the residence of the royal court ladies<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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\nImage credit: <\/span><\/em>Ho\u00e0ng Th\u00e0nh Th\u0103ng Long<\/span><\/em>
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Situated behind K\u00ednh Thi\u00ean Hall to the north is<\/span> H\u1eadu L\u00e2u, <\/b>or the Court Ladies\u2019 Residences, constructed during the L\u00ea Dynasty (<\/span>1428\u20131789)<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

This place was also called <\/span>T\u0129nh B\u1eafc L\u00e2u<\/span>,<\/span><\/i> or <\/span>Serene North Palace<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>with a view to bringing peace to the north side of the citadel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Built during the L\u00ea Dynasty, H\u1eadu L\u00e2u covers an area of approximately 2,392 square meters and used to house the court ladies and princesses.<\/span><\/p>\n

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During the Nguy\u1ec5n Dynasty, it was used as a holiday home for concubines escorting the emperors to the North.<\/span><\/p>\n

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In the 19th century, the palace underwent major damage and was renovated by the French into French-style architecture.<\/span><\/p>\n

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D67 House – the politburo of the People’s Army of Vietnam during the Vietnam War<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Situated to the north of K\u00ednh Thi\u00ean Hall is D67 House, the politburo of the People\u2019s Army of Vietnam between 1954 and 1975.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nThe work desk of General V\u00f5 Nguy\u00ean Gi\u00e1p<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

In this house, you\u2019ll find the meeting room of the Vietnamese high-ranking military officials during the Vietnam War as well as General Commander Vo Nguyen Giap\u2019s workplace. Below the house is a tunnel for emergency evacuation in the event of attacks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Largely cordoned off and well-preserved, the house offers a glimpse into the working conditions of Vietnamese military patriots during the Vietnam War.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Flag Tower Of Hanoi – a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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\nImage credit: <\/span><\/em>Chinasaur\/Wikimedia Commons<\/span><\/em>
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From the peak of the 33.4-meter-tall Hanoi Flag Post, part of the citadel area designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can get a widespread view of Hanoi\u2019s inner city.<\/span>
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Built in 1805 and completed in 1812 during the reign of Emperor Gia Long, the tower boasts three tiers and an observatory deck. This is one of the very few imperial structures in Hanoi that were not destroyed during the French invasion in the 19th century.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nImage credit: <\/span><\/em>@purple_angel79<\/span><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

From the podium tier, visitors can ascend the observatory deck through a spiral staircase.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The third tier of the tower has four doors, three of which have names.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Situated on the east side where the sun rises, the east door here is aptly called \u201cNgh\u00eanh H\u00fac\u201d, meaning \u201cWelcoming The Dawn\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nImage credit: <\/span>@sonha1509<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Located on the side where the sun goes down, the western door is named \u201cH\u1ed3i Quang\u201d, or \u201cReturning The Light\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0On the southern door, visitors can see the words \u201cH\u01b0\u1edbng Minh\u201d, meaning \u201cFacing The Light\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Flag Tower Of Hanoi is now situated inside the Vietnam Military History Museum.<\/span><\/p>\n

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18 Ho\u00e0ng Di\u1ec7u Excavation Site – ruins and relics from the 8th century<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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\nImage credit:<\/span>Wikipedia<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Situated in the northern part of Th\u0103ng Long Imperial Citadel is 18 Ho\u00e0ng Di\u1ec7u Excavation Site.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nA flower vase that traces back to the 8th century<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit:<\/span><\/em>Ho\u00e0ng Th\u00e0nh Th\u0103ng Long<\/span><\/em>
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At the site, you can find a myriad of artifacts from the L\u00fd, Tr\u1ea7n, and L\u00ea dynasties, and the relics of \u0110\u1ea1i La, a fortified city inside Hanoi during the Tang Dynasty\u2019s domination in the 8th and 9th centuries.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nA well during the Tr\u1ea7n dynasty<\/span>
\n<\/span>Image credit:<\/span><\/em> Nguoi Ke Su<\/span><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

On the 2nd floor, visitors will see the foundations of the palaces, pillars, wells, and flooring tiles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Northern Gate – where governors Nguyen Tri Phuong and Hoang Dieu took their own lives<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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\nImage credit: <\/span>@anhhk01<\/span>
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\nBuilt in 1805 in a gazebo structure, the 8.71-meter-high and 17.8-meter-wide Northern Gate consists of a ground deck and an upper deck.<\/span><\/p>\n

Back in the day, the upper deck was used as an observation deck, where royal guards had a panoramic view over the citadel and the advancements of their enemies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because of its vantage point, the gate was seized by the French army and later used as the observation deck for the French during the occupation.<\/span><\/p>\n

During an attack in 1882, the French troops fired cannons at the gate from the Red River. The damages left on the walls are still visible today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, the upper deck is used as a shrine to honor Nguy\u1ec5n Tri Ph\u01b0\u01a1ng and Ho\u00e0ng Di\u1ec7u, two governors of the Nguy\u1ec5n Dynasty. During the French attacks in 1837 and 1882, these governors took their own lives after failing to defend the citadel.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Museums – a treasure trove of historical relics and art pieces<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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As you walk past the \u0110oan M\u00f4n Gate, you\u2019ll be treated to a sight of many colonial houses built in the French style.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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After the Vietnam War, these houses were used as museums to store artifacts from the nearby excavation site, art, and paintings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A great selection of ceramics, sculptures, and decorative elements that date back to the \u0110inh, L\u00fd, Tr\u1ea7n, and L\u00ea dynasties are exhibited in these museums.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Guide to Th\u0103ng Long Imperial Citadel\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Th\u0103ng Long Imperial Citadel is home to some of the oldest collections of Vietnamese historical artifacts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Home to some of the oldest collection of Vietnamese historical artifacts, Th\u0103ng Long Imperial Citadel is one of the best museums in Vietnam. While touring the site, visitors can find a spectacular mix of ancient treasures and exhibitions of great significance in Vietnam’s history and culture.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Address:<\/b><\/span> 19C Ho\u00e0ng Di\u1ec7u, Ba \u0110\u00ecnh, Hanoi
\n<\/span>Admission fees:<\/b> <\/span>VND30,000 (~USD1.30)
\n<\/span>Opening hours: <\/b><\/span>Tue \u2013 Sun, 8AM-11.30AM and 2PM-5PM | Closed Mondays<\/span>
\n<\/span>Website<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Also check out:<\/span><\/p>\n