Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

Grenouille vert · CC BY-SA 3.0

A World Heritage site where thirteen centuries of power are stacked on one patch of ground.

What earned Thang Long its UNESCO listing in 2010 is not any single building but the continuity: this same ground has been the seat of power from the seventh century into the modern era, each layer built over the last. You pass through the Le dynasty's Doan Mon gate, look up at the Nguyen-era flag tower, stand on the platform of Kinh Thien palace where only the carved stone dragons of the stairway survive — and then go down into House D67, the concrete command bunker where the Politburo met during the war, its maps and rotary telephones still on the table. Across the road, the excavation at 18 Hoang Dieu lays bare palace foundations, wells and ceramics from several dynasties at once.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Imperial Citadel of Thang Long?

Morning, to avoid harsh sun on the open courtyards

How much does it cost to visit Imperial Citadel of Thang Long?

70,000d (indicative — check at the counter)

How long do you need at Imperial Citadel of Thang Long?

2 hours

What are the opening hours of Imperial Citadel of Thang Long?

08:00 - 17:00, closed Monday

Did you know

The site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.
The same ground has been a continuous seat of power since around the seventh century.
House D67 within the grounds is a wartime command bunker, preserved as it was.
The 18 Hoang Dieu excavation exposes palace foundations from several dynasties layered together.

Travel tips

Do not skip House D67 and the bunker below it — most people walk past the part they would remember.
The grounds are large with little shade; come in the morning and bring water.

Source: https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho%C3%A0ng_th%C3%A0nh_Th%C4%83ng_Long

Updated: 2026-08-16