Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long - Hanoi


World Heritage Identification Number: 1328

World Heritage since: 2010

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇻🇳 Viet Nam

Continent: Asia

UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific

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The Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – A Historical Testimony in Hanoi, Vietnam

The Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, situated in the heart of Hanoi, Vietnam, stands as a significant historical artifact that bears witness to the rich cultural heritage and political evolution of the region. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, this architectural ensemble offers valuable insights into the development of Southeast Asian cultures and the interplay of influences from neighboring regions.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

The Thang Long Imperial Citadel was built in the 11th century by the Ly Viet Dynasty, marking the independence of the Dai Viet. It was constructed on the remains of a Chinese fortress dating from the 7th century, on drained land reclaimed from the Red River Delta in Hanoi. It was the centre of regional political power for almost 13 centuries without interruption. The Imperial Citadel buildings and the remains in the 18 Hoang Dieu Archaeological Site reflect a unique South-East Asian culture specific to the lower Red River Valley, at the crossroads between influences coming from China in the north and the ancient Kingdom of Champa in the south.

Encyclopedia Record: Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long

The Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long is a complex of historic buildings associated with the history of Vietnam located in the centre of Hanoi, Vietnam. Its construction began in 1010 and was completed in early 1011 under the reign of Emperor Lý Thái Tổ of the Lý dynasty. Most of the existing structure is dated to the extensive reconstruction of the old Imperial Citadel ordered by Gia Long in 1805, but the Citadel was largely demolished by the French to allow more land for offices and barracks.

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Additional Site Details

Area: 18.395 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (ii) — Significant interchange of human values
(iii) — Unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition
(vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions

Coordinates: 21.03752 , 105.838623

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Image of Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long - Hanoi

© Grenouille vert, CC BY-SA 3.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)

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Country Information: Viet Nam

Flag of Viet Nam

Official Name: Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Capital: Hanoi

Continent: Asia

Population (2024): 100,987,686

Population (2023): 100,352,192

Population (2022): 99,680,655

Land Area: 313,430 sq km

Currency: Vietnamese đồng (VND)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long - Hanoi are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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