Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long

The Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long (Vietnamese: Hoàng thành Thăng Long; Hán-Nôm: 皇城昇龍) is a complex of historic imperial buildings located in the centre of Hanoi, Vietnam. It was first constructed in 1011 under the reign of Emperor Lý Thái Tổ of Lý dynasty.

Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long – Hanoi
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Đoan Môn, the main gate to the palatial complex of Later Lê Emperors.
LocationHanoi, Vietnam
CriteriaCultural: (ii), (iii), (vi)
Reference1328
Inscription2010 (34th session)
Area18.395 ha (45.46 acres)
Buffer zone108 ha (270 acres)
Coordinates21°2′22″N 105°50′14″E
Location of Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long in Vietnam
Hanoi citadel
Kính Thiên Palace, which was later destroyed by the colonial French

History
Map of Hanoi with the discernible quadrilateral outline of the Imperial City (1873)

The royal enclosure was first built during the Lý dynasty (1010) and subsequently expanded by the Trần, Lê and finally the Nguyễn dynasty. It remained the seat of the Vietnamese court until 1810, when the Nguyễn dynasty chose to move the capital to Huế. The ruins roughly coincide with the Hanoi Citadel today.

The royal palaces and most of the structures in Thăng Long were in varying states of disrepair by the late 19th century with the upheaval of the French conquest of Hanoi. By the 20th century many of the remaining structures were torn down. Only in the 21st century are the ruin foundations of Thăng Long Imperial City systematically excavated.

In mid-1945 the Citadel was used by the Imperial Japanese Army to imprison over 4000 French colonial soldiers captured during the Japanese coup d'état in French Indochina in March 1945.[1]:19–20

The central sector of the imperial citadel was listed in UNESCO's World Heritage Site on July 31, 2010 at its session in Brazil, as "The Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long – Hanoi".[2][3]

Relics

The royal palaces and edifices were largely destroyed in the late 19th century. The few remaining structures within the royal compound are the Doan Mon gate, marking the southern entrance to the royal palace, the Flag Tower, the steps of Kinh Thiên Palace and the Hậu Lâu (Princess' Palace).

Remains of the Imperial City were discovered on the site of the former Ba Đình Hall when the structure was torn down in 2008 to make way for a new parliament building. Various archaeological remains unearthed were brought to the National Museum to be exhibited. Thus far only a small fraction of Thăng Long has been excavated.

Hanoi Flag Tower
Main article: Flag Tower of Hanoi

Among the structures related to the Imperial City is the Flag Tower of Hanoi (Cột cờ Hà Nội). Rising to a height of 33.4 m (41 m with the flag), it is frequently used as a symbol of the city. Built in 1812 during the Nguyễn dynasty, the tower, unlike many other structures in Hanoi, was spared during the French colonial rule (1885–1954) as it was used as a military post.

North Gate
  • Front view of the North Gate with moat (1885)
  • Back façade from inside the Citadel
  • The North Gate in 2009

D67 Tunnel and House

From 1954 to 1975, the People's Army of Vietnam, had its headquarters within the Citadel, coded D67. A connecting tunnel allowed for emergency evacuation in case of an attack. The house and tunnel are situated to the north of Kinh Thien hall.[4]

To visit this historic site, tourists need to buy an entrance ticket of VND 30,000. Students and elderly people pay VND 15,000. D67 house was built in 1967, with modern architectural style, 60-centimeter wall and good soundproofing system. At this place, exhibits are tools that comrades in the Politburo and the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff used in the resistance war against the US.

  • Carved stone dragons flanking the stairs to the destroyed Kính Thiên Palace
  • D67 used to be the military headquarters of General Giáp during the war

Museum

As of 2000, some of the old French barracks and buildings were demolished to make room for a new museum within the citadel.

See also

References
  1. Williams, Kenneth (2019). The US Air Force in Southeast Asia and the Vietnam War A Narrative Chronology Volume I: The Early Years through 1959 (PDF). Air Force History and Museums Program. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. UNESCO World Heritage Site
  3. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1328

Further reading
  • Vietnam Institute of Archaeology (ed.). Thăng Long Imperial Citadel. (2006). Culture and Information Publishing House. Hanoi.
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