A Complete Guide to the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long Hanoi

The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is the site of Hanoi‘s old royal enclosure, at 19C Hoang Dieu Street, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010. The palaces are mostly gone, so you walk among gates, foundations, an excavation site and wartime bunkers. Tickets cost 100,000 VND. It’s worth the trip if you like history and don’t mind ruins.

Note: restoration of Kinh Thien Palace, at the center of the site, began on 29 September 2026 and runs until 2030. In early November 2026 the official site still listed normal hours and no closure.

Imperial Citadel of Thang Long entrance fee and opening hours

The entrance fee has been 100,000 VND since 1 January 2025, the same for Vietnamese and foreign visitors; the 30,000 VND in older guides and on this page before is out of date. Students aged 16+ with a Vietnamese student card and Vietnamese citizens aged 60+ with a senior card pay half; foreign seniors pay the full price. Under-16s go free.

The official ticket page gives 8:00–17:00 every day, with no weekly closing day, and the site also sells e-tickets online.

I. History of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

The origin of the Citadel dates back to a Chinese fortress built here in the 7th century. In 1010, King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh) to Dai La (former name of Hanoi) and renamed it Thang Long.

The Citadel was in the same place, over the top of the torn-down fortress. Counting from that fortress, the site remained a center of regional political power for almost 13 centuries without a break.

The Tran and Le dynasties expanded the Imperial Citadel, with several occasions of major destruction by war. It stopped being the seat of the Vietnamese Court in the late 18th century: Emperor Quang Trung ruled from Phu Xuan (now known as the Imperial City of Hue) from 1788, the Nguyen Dynasty kept its capital there, and Thang Long was no longer the capital of the country. In 1805 the Nguyen replaced the old royal citadel with a square, French-style citadel.

During the French colonial era, the royal palaces and most of the structures were severely damaged. In October 1954, when the Vietnamese Army took over Hanoi, the Citadel became the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense, which stayed until 2004.

In the 21st century, the ruin foundations of Thang Long Imperial Citadel were systematically excavated. From 2002, digging at 18 Hoang Dieu found layers from the 7th century to the Nguyen era, including foundations of old palaces, ancient roads, ponds and wells.

II. Cultural Values of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

The Citadel witnessed a series of dramatic changes throughout the history of Vietnam and braced itself through a number of destructive wars. The most notable part of the Citadel is the Central Sector, which was listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2010, as a cultural site (UNESCO listing).

The Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long expresses a set of intercultural exchanges with major influences from China in the north and the Champa Kingdom in the South. It’s also historically significant, hosting the center of political powers from the 7th century to the 20th century.

UNESCO listed it partly for the exchange of influences it shows in architecture, town planning and monumental arts over many centuries.

Despite losing a large part of the original construction, the site is still currently under excavation by archeologists. The artefacts found help the authorities provide a better and clearer demonstration of the Citadel.

III. Architecture Features of the Citadel

There are 6 places to see in and around the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.

1. Flag Tower (Ky Dai)

Flag Tower is one of the most iconic symbols of Hanoi. Rising about 33 meters from the ground (over 40 meters with the flagpole), the Tower consists of four main structures: the base, the second floor, the third floor and the top. The third floor featured four doors in the four different directions. The top is an eight-sided pillar with the Vietnamese national flag on top. Completed in 1812, the Flag Tower survived over the French colonial era, when it was used as a military post.

The Flag Tower is outside the citadel’s ticketed area, with its own gate at 28A Dien Bien Phu Street, about 500 m by road. Since January 2025 it has charged adults 100,000 VND. A separate tour announced in December 2025, Ky uc Cot co, goes up its first three levels, but no schedule or price has been published.

2. Kinh Thien Palace

Kinh Thien Palace is the central relic in the complex. They built the palace from 1428, used as a place to celebrate imperial ceremonies and major national affairs. Only the foundation and two stone dragon staircases remain; the later hall on the site was demolished in 1886 for a French military building. You will find the sophisticated dragon statues carved on green stones along the stairs. This is the area being rebuilt, a project of over 1,680 billion VND. 

3. Doan Mon (South Gate)

Doan Mon existed in the Le Dynasty and located to the south of the Citadel. Only the king could use the central gate. There is one main gate in the middle and four smaller gates on the sides. From the watchtower on top you can see across to the Flag Tower.

4. Bac Mon (North Gate)

Bac Mon, on Phan Dinh Phung Street, was built in 1805 as the north gate of the Nguyen-era citadel. The gate is now used as a place to worship the two former governors of Hanoi: Nguyen Tri Phuong and Hoang Dieu. They stood as loyal subjects to the Vietnamese court under the invasion of the French colonists in the 19th century, and both chose death over surrender.

5. Hau Lau (Princess Tower)

Hau Lau (literally “the tower in the back”) is also called Tinh Bac Lau. Legend says it housed princesses and queens. The French called Hau Lau “Pagode des Dames”. At the end of the 19th century, Hau Lau was severely damaged, after which the French rebuilt the monument as today.

6. D67 House and tunnel

From 1954 to 1975, the Citadel was the headquarters of the Vietnamese People’s Army, and House D67 is named after the year it was built. A connecting tunnel allowed for emergency evacuation in case of an attack. The house and tunnel are in the north of Kinh Thien hall.

D67 house was built in 1967, with modern architectural style, 60-centimeter wall and good soundproofing system. Here are the meeting room of the Politburo and the Central Military Commission and the working rooms of Generals Vo Nguyen Giap and Van Tien Dung. Two staircases lead down to the bunker, about 9 m underground.

Nearby, the cipher bunker (Ham Co yeu), where wartime telegrams were decoded, opened to the public for the first time in 2025.

IV. How to Get to the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

The site is in the heart of Hanoi and only a short walk away from other attractions such as Cua Bac Church, Quan Thanh Temple (about 1.2 km) and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex with the Presidential Palace (about 1 km). The Temple of Literature is 1.7 km away. It’s about 2.3 kilometers by road from Hoan Kiem Lake.

You can easily reach the site by taxi, motorbike or Grab. Bus is another sound option: travel guides list routes such as 50 stopping on Hoang Dieu Street near the entrance, for 7,000–9,000 VND.

The Vietnam Military History Museum is no longer next door: since November 2024 it has been at Km 6+500 Thang Long Avenue, 12–14 km west by road.

Thang Long Imperial Citadel night tour

On Friday and Saturday evenings at 19:00, the citadel runs a 90-minute guided night tour, Giai ma Hoang thanh Thang Long (“Decoding Thang Long Imperial Citadel”). Adults pay 300,000 VND including entry, children under 12 half price. It goes from Doan Mon, with a court dance over the excavations, to Kinh Thien and the 18 Hoang Dieu dig, and ends with lotus tea and a game of naming artefacts projected by laser.

This schedule was published in 2022–2024, so when you book on +84 848 455 222, ask whether it still runs, whether it is guided in English and how the Kinh Thien works change the route.

Is the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long worth visiting?

Yes, if you come for the history rather than for palace buildings. What survives is gates, the Kinh Thien foundation with its stone dragons, the excavated layers at 18 Hoang Dieu and the wartime command house and bunkers. Until 2030 the works may fence off the Kinh Thien foundation and the Dan Tri courtyard in front of it, so ask at the ticket desk which parts are open.

V. Tips to Visit the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

There are only a few things to bear in mind before visiting the Imperial Citadel:

• Most historical sites will require you to dress properly and the Imperial Citadel is no exception. The site’s rules ask for neat, polite clothing.
• The archeological site is across the road. Make sure you don’t miss the site when visiting the Citadel.
• Drones are banned on the heritage site.

The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is one of the most remarkable historical sites in Hanoi. This UNESCO-listed Heritage Site is a destination you should not miss while staying in Vietnam. The interesting excavated items and mock-ups of the citadel will certainly give you a better understanding into Vietnamese cultures and history through thousands of years. 

Sources: Imperial Citadel official site; VnExpress, 29 September 2026; Hanoi government portal