{"id":5599,"date":"2021-03-03T09:18:35","date_gmt":"2021-03-03T09:18:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/hanoi\/thang-long-ciudadela-imperial\/"},"modified":"2026-07-16T07:58:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T07:58:11","slug":"thang-long-imperial-citadel","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/hanoi\/thang-long-imperial-citadel\/","title":{"rendered":"The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi: history and visit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>Imperial Citadel of Thang Long<\/strong> is one of the essential places to visit if you&#8217;re vacationing in <a href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/hanoi\/\"><strong>Hanoi<\/strong>.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For centuries it was the main residence of Vietnam&#8217;s old imperial court, making it the true political center of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sadly, much of the complex is deteriorated today \u2014 yet a walk among its remains is enough to sense the grandeur it once held. In its heyday, this citadel had little or nothing to envy of far more famous imperial complexes, such as Beijing&#8217;s celebrated <strong>Forbidden City<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">In this post<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a6fd0f24e2c1\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #233619;color:#233619\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #233619;color:#233619\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a6fd0f24e2c1\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/hanoi\/thang-long-imperial-citadel\/#history_of_the_imperial_citadel_of_thang_long\" >History of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/hanoi\/thang-long-imperial-citadel\/#what_to_see_at_hanois_imperial_citadel\" >What to see at Hanoi&#8217;s Imperial Citadel<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/hanoi\/thang-long-imperial-citadel\/#1_kinh_thien_palace\" >1. Kinh Thien Palace<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/hanoi\/thang-long-imperial-citadel\/#2_the_flag_tower_ky_dai\" >2. The Flag Tower (Ky Dai)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/hanoi\/thang-long-imperial-citadel\/#3_bac_mon_the_north_gate\" >3. Bac Mon (the north gate)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/hanoi\/thang-long-imperial-citadel\/#4_doan_mon_the_south_gate\" >4. Doan Mon (the south gate)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/hanoi\/thang-long-imperial-citadel\/#5_hau_lau_the_princesses_palace\" >5. Hau Lau (the Princesses&#8217; Palace)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/hanoi\/thang-long-imperial-citadel\/#6_the_tunnels_and_house_d67\" >6. The tunnels and House D67<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/hanoi\/thang-long-imperial-citadel\/#how_to_get_to_the_imperial_citadel_of_thang_long\" >How to get to the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/hanoi\/thang-long-imperial-citadel\/#imperial_citadel_of_thang_long_prices_and_hours\" >Imperial Citadel of Thang Long: prices and hours<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/hanoi\/thang-long-imperial-citadel\/#extra_tips_for_visiting_the_imperial_citadel_of_thang_long\" >Extra tips for visiting the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"history_of_the_imperial_citadel_of_thang_long\"><\/span>History of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was <strong>built during the 11th century<\/strong>, when the Vietnamese emperor of the time decided to move the capital from Hoa Lu (in the neighboring province of Ninh Binh) to Hanoi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The move proved so successful that the Vietnamese court resided here for nearly <strong>eight centuries<\/strong>, until the early 19th century, when emperor <strong>Gia Long<\/strong> definitively transferred the capital to <strong>Hue<\/strong>, in the center of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the <strong>French occupation of Vietnam<\/strong>, many of the royal buildings and palaces suffered serious damage. The final blow came in the <strong>20th century<\/strong>, during the Japanese occupation in <strong>World War II<\/strong>, when the site was used to hold captured French soldiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In recent decades, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long has been the subject of <strong>archaeological excavations, historical studies and restoration work<\/strong>, aimed at reviving what was once Vietnam&#8217;s most important palace complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Proof of that effort: <strong>UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 2010.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"535\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ciudadela-thang-long-hanoi-1.webp\" alt=\"puerta de la ciudadela de thang lonh en hanoi\" class=\"wp-image-1841\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ciudadela-thang-long-hanoi-1.webp 800w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ciudadela-thang-long-hanoi-1-300x201.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ciudadela-thang-long-hanoi-1-768x514.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_to_see_at_hanois_imperial_citadel\"><\/span>What to see at Hanoi&#8217;s Imperial Citadel<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although its state of preservation, as you&#8217;ll have gathered, isn&#8217;t ideal for a place of such historical weight, <strong>it&#8217;s well worth taking your time here<\/strong> and trying to picture the splendor the <strong>Imperial Citadel of Thang Long<\/strong> held in a not-so-distant past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Built under strong influences from the <strong>Chinese Empire<\/strong> and the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Champa\">Kingdom of Champa<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 which occupied much of today&#8217;s southern Vietnam \u2014 its walls concentrated the core of imperial power for centuries. The citadel was the symbol of a refined and deeply hierarchical court life, reserved for the empire&#8217;s elite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you come to explore this historic corner of Hanoi, these are the different places you can visit inside the complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_kinh_thien_palace\"><\/span>1. Kinh Thien Palace<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although it has reached our days <strong>in a badly deteriorated state<\/strong>, this palace was built in <strong>1428<\/strong> and played a central role within the citadel. For centuries it was the stage for <strong>official ceremonies and receptions<\/strong> where the empire&#8217;s main affairs were settled \u2014 which explains its privileged position at the very heart of the citadel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, of all that splendor, only a few <strong>stretches of the original staircases<\/strong> and the emblematic <strong>stone dragon statues<\/strong> remain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_the_flag_tower_ky_dai\"><\/span>2. The Flag Tower (Ky Dai)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At nearly 40 meters tall, the Flag Tower <strong>is without doubt one of Hanoi&#8217;s most emblematic symbols<\/strong> \u2014 rare is the visit to the city that doesn&#8217;t include a photo here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although it&#8217;s <strong>more recent than other buildings in the citadel<\/strong> \u2014 dating from the <strong>19th century<\/strong>, under the <strong>Nguyen Dynasty<\/strong> \u2014 it&#8217;s one of the structures that <strong>has best withstood the passage of time<\/strong>. In fact, it survived both the French period and the later conflicts in good condition, which explains its excellent preservation.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"568\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/torre-bandera-hanoi.jpg\" alt=\"torre de la bandera en hanoi\" class=\"wp-image-1840\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/torre-bandera-hanoi.jpg 800w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/torre-bandera-hanoi-300x213.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/torre-bandera-hanoi-768x545.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_bac_mon_the_north_gate\"><\/span>3. Bac Mon (the north gate)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The current <strong>B\u1eafc M\u00f4n<\/strong>, or North Gate, was built in <strong>1805<\/strong> during the <strong>Nguyen Dynasty<\/strong>, on top of defensive structures from earlier dynasties. Its main role was that of a <strong>watchtower<\/strong>, from which imperial troops could monitor both the inside of the citadel and movements outside, especially against enemy threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inside the tower, homage is paid to <strong>Nguyen Tri Phuong<\/strong> and <strong>Hoang Dieu<\/strong>, who led its defense during the French army&#8217;s assault in the 19th century. Both chose to <strong>sacrifice themselves rather than surrender the citadel<\/strong>, which is why they&#8217;re considered <strong>national heroes<\/strong> today. In their honor, two of the streets surrounding the old imperial grounds bear their names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_doan_mon_the_south_gate\"><\/span>4. Doan Mon (the south gate)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the southern gate into the citadel. Its main peculiarity is that <strong>only members of the royal family and high dignitaries<\/strong> were allowed through it, while everyone else was <strong>strictly forbidden<\/strong> from entering here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This access control wasn&#8217;t only about security \u2014 it also reinforced the <strong>social hierarchy and the sacred nature of imperial power<\/strong>, clearly separating the world of the court from that of the common people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Imperial Citadel of Thang Long - UNESCO World Heritage Site\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MJwbPLDBxvM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_hau_lau_the_princesses_palace\"><\/span>5. Hau Lau (the Princesses&#8217; Palace)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As its name suggests, it was mainly <strong>used by the queen and princesses for their daily affairs.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the <strong>Nguyen Dynasty<\/strong>, the building also served to <strong>house the concubines of the B\u1eafc H\u00e0 king<\/strong>, reinforcing its role as one of the most intimate and private spaces of court life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the <strong>French colonial era<\/strong>, the site became known as the <strong>Pagode des Dames<\/strong> (Pagoda of the Ladies) and suffered <strong>severe damage<\/strong>, requiring a thorough reconstruction. The result is the building we can see today \u2014 a blend of modern rebuilding and imperial past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_the_tunnels_and_house_d67\"><\/span>6. The tunnels and House D67<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the Vietnam War, the citadel served as <strong>headquarters of the People&#8217;s Army of Vietnam.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The constant <strong>American aerial bombardments<\/strong> forced the construction of a <strong>fortified underground structure<\/strong> capable of withstanding direct hits. Thus was born the so-called <strong>House D67<\/strong>, a partially buried building that housed the military command center and kept operations running through the most critical moments of the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To guarantee a rapid evacuation in an emergency, a <strong>system of tunnels<\/strong> was also dug, connecting House D67 with other parts of the complex. Today you can walk through its interior and visit the various rooms, which display <strong>original objects from the war<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_get_to_the_imperial_citadel_of_thang_long\"><\/span>How to get to the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long sits <strong>right in central Hanoi<\/strong>, a few steps from other interesting sights like the <a href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/hanoi\/military-history-museum\/\">Military History Museum of Vietnam.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The best way to get there is on foot if you&#8217;re in the old quarter \u2014 or, if long walks aren&#8217;t your thing, a taxi or Grab will drop you there easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Location:<\/strong> 9 Hoang Dieu, Dien Bien, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi<\/p>\n\n\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: 0;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d14895.830546576048!2d105.8401142!3d21.034381!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x0%3A0xb521a7d98f582937!2sCiudad%20imperial%20de%20Thang%20Long!5e0!3m2!1ses!2ses!4v1614761543479!5m2!1ses!2ses\" width=\"600\" height=\"100%\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"imperial_citadel_of_thang_long_prices_and_hours\"><\/span>Imperial Citadel of Thang Long: prices and hours<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Closed Mondays.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Entrance fee: 100,000 VND (~US$3.80)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"extra_tips_for_visiting_the_imperial_citadel_of_thang_long\"><\/span>Extra tips for visiting the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Remember to dress appropriately or you won&#8217;t be let in \u2014 no shorts, miniskirts, sleeveless shirts or see-through clothing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Link to <a href=\"https:\/\/hoangthanhthanglong.com\/?lang=en\">the official website<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2714\ufe0f Information reviewed and last updated on January 7, 2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is one of the essential places to visit if you&#8217;re vacationing in Hanoi. For centuries it was the main residence of Vietnam&#8217;s old imperial court, making it the true political center of the country. Sadly, much of the complex is deteriorated today \u2014 yet a walk among its remains &#8230; <a title=\"The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi: history and visit\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/hanoi\/thang-long-imperial-citadel\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi: history and visit\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5602,"parent":3636,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5599","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi: history and visit - Viajar por Vietnam<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What to see at the UNESCO-listed Imperial Citadel of Thang Long: gates, palaces, the flag tower and wartime tunnels.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/hanoi\/thang-long-imperial-citadel\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi: history and visit - 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