The citadel is a complex full of relics closely associated with the history of Thang Long – Hanoi capital city. It was built by the Ly, Tran, Le and Nguyen dynasties. The citadel is surrounded by Tran Phu – Dien Bien Phu – Doc Lap – Hoang Van Thu – Hoang Dieu – Phan Dinh Phung – Nguyen Tri Phuong roads.

The royal palaces and most of the structures in Thang Long were destroyed in the late 19th century, and today ruins from the Thang Long Imperial City are still being excavated.

The central section of the imperial citadel, including the Flagpole, Doan Mon, Kinh Thien, Hau Lau and Bac Mon, were recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site on July 31, 2010 during a session in Brazil.

Remains were found on the site of the former Ba Đình Hall, which was ripped down in 2008 to make way for a new parliament building. Various archaeological remains were found and these artifacts were brought to the National Museum to be exhibited. It is assumed that just a very small fraction of the citadel has actually been excavated.

Doan Mon – the major gate of the royal citadel.

Kinh Thien Palace where the King and mandarins met to make decisions on state affairs. This is the citadel’s center.

Hau Lau, the home to imperial concubines.

The gate of Kinh Thien palace.

A cast-iron made cannon placed in front of the Kinh Thien palace.

A stone-made dragon in front of the Kinh Thien palace.

Bac Mon was built by carved stone and refined bricks by the Nguyen Dynasty.

The traces of two cannon bullets shot to the Bac Mon citadel by French troops on April 25 1888.

The royal citadel from above.