Ten years the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long-Hanoi was recognized as a world cultural heritage by UNESCO, Hanoi has made great strides in the preservation and promotion of the heritage’s value. 

The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

“There are a very few countries in the world could preserve the vivid memories of the capital's founding over 1,000 years ago without fading over time. I admire Vietnam very much for this,” said former UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova. It’s true that the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is an intriguing relic of Vietnam’s history and, signifying its historical and cultural importance.

8.30pm (in Brazil) or 6.30am (in Vietnam) on August 1, 2010 seemed to be unforgettable point of time for Professor Phan Huy Le and other Vietnamese historians and archaeologists. After a sleepless night waiting, finally, the hammer knocked at the 34th session of the World Heritage Committee in Brasilia (Brazil), recognizing the Thang Long Imperial Citadel as a world cultural heritage. 

"The recognition is very important because the existence of a world cultural heritage within the city would help Hanoi enhance its role as a town of rich culture among many renowned capitals worldwide,” said Professor Le, who led the application process to UNESCO to recognize the Thang Long Imperial Citadel as a world’s cultural heritage. 

Until 2000, the location of the imperial capital of the monarchical regimes in Hanoi remained unknown. From 2002 to 2003, a massive archaeological excavation was conducted at 18 Hoang Dieu (the present Thang Long Imperial – the location which years earlier was garrisoned by the army) revealed an extremely valuable relic complex, affirming the existence and longevity of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel through a thousand years. Many artifacts and items dating back to between the 6th and 20th centuries were unearthed, including foundations of old palaces, ancient roads, ponds and wells.

In October 2004, the citadel opened its doors to visitors for the first time, becoming a special cultural event attracting the attention of thousands of people of the capital and the country as well as international tourists.

2020 marks the tenth year since UNESCO honored Thang Long Imperial Citadel as a world heritage site.

The year of 2020 marks the tenth year since UNESCO honored Thang Long Imperial Citadel as a world heritage site. During the years, Hanoi has made a great effort in preserving and promoting the values of the heritage through the organization of many exhibitions related to the site. In addition, a website and a social network have been created to help people understand more about the history of Vietnam.

The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long has now become a destination for domestic and international tourists. The place turns to be a familiar venue for many major cultural events of the capital, resulting in an annual increase of nearly 30% in average revenue from ticket sales. Some technology applications are also deployed here in order to bring the most perfect experience for visitors such as free wifi, audio guide application on smartphones and 360-degree virtual tour, among others. 

“The results of researching, preserving and promoting the heritage values in the past 10 years lay a solid foundation for us to prepare well for the next step: turning the Thang Long Imperial Citadel into a long-term preserved historical park, a leading tourist attraction of the capital and the country,” said Mr. Tran Viet Anh, director of the Thang Long Heritage Conservation Center.