Ha Noi is the only locality in the country with many ancient citadels.Most popular are Co Loa, Thang Long Royal Citadel and Son Tay.
Locatedin Dong Anh district, 17km from the centre of Hanoi, Co Loa citadel hasnumerous archaeological sites excavated. Discoveries have shown thecontinuous development of the culture from the Bronze, Stone and Ironages to the pinnacle of Dong Son culture.
Archaeologists saidthat Co Loa was the most ancient citadel in Vietnam with uniquearchitecture and scale. The citadel used to be the capital of thecountry under King An Duong Vuong dynasty in the third century BC andthe Ngo Quyen era in the 10th century.
The archaeological relicsshow the techniques for building ramparts and reveal military tacticsfrom the early days of the ancient Vietnamese people who took advantagesof the natural terrain to build meandering citadel.
On the 6 thday of the first lunar month of the year, local people hold an annualfestival to remember the citadel builders and King An Duong Vuong.
Thang Long Imperial Citadel has been recognised as a world culturalheritage site, as it boasts treasures, both buried and visible, morethan 1,300 years old.
The site encompasses the No. 18Hoang Dieu archaeological site and the central axis of the Hanoiancient citadel, which are nestled in the Forbidden Area in the heart ofThang Long Imperial Citadel.
At the No. 18 Hoang Dieuarchaeological site, scientists found imprints typical of the Ly, Tranand Le dynasties that revealed much about the origin of Thang LongImperial Citadel more than 1,300 years ago.
Lying adjacent to Kinh Thien Palace to the west, the No. 18 Hoang Dieuarcheological site is a component of the Forbidden Area from the Lydynasty to the end of the Le Trung Hung era.
From December 2002to March 2004, archaeologists excavated numerous artefacts on 19,000 sq.m of the site, exposing layers of cultures of different dynasties whichreigned in Vietnam and proving that Thang Long Imperial Cityplayed a key role as a political centre throughout the 1,300 years.
Architectural vestiges of palaces, pavilions, and the foundations ofarchitectural structures of the Imperial Citadel have also beenrevealed.
A system of ancient wells was exposed,including two believed to exist in the Dai La era, two built under theLy dynasty, two under the Tran dynasty, and six under the Le dynasty.These wells have a similar shape and size to those found in theforbidden citadels in Japan , China and the Democratic People’sRepublic of Korea .
The No. 18 Hoang Dieuarchaeological site has supplied clear evidence of the site’s importantrole throughout the nation’s history, from 1010 to 1789.
Situated to the east of the No. 18 Hoang Dieu archaeological site isHanoi ’s ancient citadel area - the remainder of the central axis ofthe Vauban building.
Many buildings inside thecitadel were constructed by French colonists during the 1880s after theyoccupied Hanoi . There are also some important buildings built after1954, which served as the headquarters of the Defence Ministry until2004.
Son Tay citadel, covering 16 ha in Son Tay twonship,40km from Hanoi’s centre, has a military rampart with specialarchitectural features.
The ancient military architecture was built under the Nguyen dynasty, under the reign of King Minh Mang in 1822.
The citadel was built with an overall square shape, with each wallabout 400m long and 5m high, built in the Vauban style.
One of the four main ports, or entries, the south gate was called Tien(front) gate; the north was the Hau (back) port, the east, Ta (left)main and the west, Huu (right) main.
After nearly 200 yearsand with much devastation, ancient Son Tay citadel now has only thewalls, doors, door posts, two cannons and some ruins at Vong Lau, thefoundation of Kinh Thien palace and the wells.
Hanoi is investing in preserving those citadels to attract tourists to the city./.
Locatedin Dong Anh district, 17km from the centre of Hanoi, Co Loa citadel hasnumerous archaeological sites excavated. Discoveries have shown thecontinuous development of the culture from the Bronze, Stone and Ironages to the pinnacle of Dong Son culture.
Archaeologists saidthat Co Loa was the most ancient citadel in Vietnam with uniquearchitecture and scale. The citadel used to be the capital of thecountry under King An Duong Vuong dynasty in the third century BC andthe Ngo Quyen era in the 10th century.
The archaeological relicsshow the techniques for building ramparts and reveal military tacticsfrom the early days of the ancient Vietnamese people who took advantagesof the natural terrain to build meandering citadel.
On the 6 thday of the first lunar month of the year, local people hold an annualfestival to remember the citadel builders and King An Duong Vuong.
Thang Long Imperial Citadel has been recognised as a world culturalheritage site, as it boasts treasures, both buried and visible, morethan 1,300 years old.
The site encompasses the No. 18Hoang Dieu archaeological site and the central axis of the Hanoiancient citadel, which are nestled in the Forbidden Area in the heart ofThang Long Imperial Citadel.
At the No. 18 Hoang Dieuarchaeological site, scientists found imprints typical of the Ly, Tranand Le dynasties that revealed much about the origin of Thang LongImperial Citadel more than 1,300 years ago.
Lying adjacent to Kinh Thien Palace to the west, the No. 18 Hoang Dieuarcheological site is a component of the Forbidden Area from the Lydynasty to the end of the Le Trung Hung era.
From December 2002to March 2004, archaeologists excavated numerous artefacts on 19,000 sq.m of the site, exposing layers of cultures of different dynasties whichreigned in Vietnam and proving that Thang Long Imperial Cityplayed a key role as a political centre throughout the 1,300 years.
Architectural vestiges of palaces, pavilions, and the foundations ofarchitectural structures of the Imperial Citadel have also beenrevealed.
A system of ancient wells was exposed,including two believed to exist in the Dai La era, two built under theLy dynasty, two under the Tran dynasty, and six under the Le dynasty.These wells have a similar shape and size to those found in theforbidden citadels in Japan , China and the Democratic People’sRepublic of Korea .
The No. 18 Hoang Dieuarchaeological site has supplied clear evidence of the site’s importantrole throughout the nation’s history, from 1010 to 1789.
Situated to the east of the No. 18 Hoang Dieu archaeological site isHanoi ’s ancient citadel area - the remainder of the central axis ofthe Vauban building.
Many buildings inside thecitadel were constructed by French colonists during the 1880s after theyoccupied Hanoi . There are also some important buildings built after1954, which served as the headquarters of the Defence Ministry until2004.
Son Tay citadel, covering 16 ha in Son Tay twonship,40km from Hanoi’s centre, has a military rampart with specialarchitectural features.
The ancient military architecture was built under the Nguyen dynasty, under the reign of King Minh Mang in 1822.
The citadel was built with an overall square shape, with each wallabout 400m long and 5m high, built in the Vauban style.
One of the four main ports, or entries, the south gate was called Tien(front) gate; the north was the Hau (back) port, the east, Ta (left)main and the west, Huu (right) main.
After nearly 200 yearsand with much devastation, ancient Son Tay citadel now has only thewalls, doors, door posts, two cannons and some ruins at Vong Lau, thefoundation of Kinh Thien palace and the wells.
Hanoi is investing in preserving those citadels to attract tourists to the city./.