An impressive construction

The Hanoi Flag Tower, is a tower structure built at the same time with the Hanoi citadel under the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) between 1805 and 1812.

Hanoi Flag Tower was recognized as a historical relic in 1989/ Photo: Kinh te & Do thi

As the most intact historical relic of the Nguyen Dynasty in the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long since the beginning of the nineteenth century until now, Hanoi Flag Column is still one of the symbols of the Capital - the center politics, economy and culture of the whole country.

The image of the Hanoi Flag Tower is also chosen as a model on posters, stamps, book covers, among others and is imprinted in every Vietnamese heart. On the holidays, the traditional New Year's Day, the Hanoi Flag Tower is splendidly decorated in the shimmering light, adding to the Vietnam red flag with yellow stars that is flying forever on the blue sky.

The structure consisting of a top-level platform and three level bases is considered one of the symbols of the city. The cupola of Hanoi Flag Tower is an octagonal floor with 3.3 meter high having eight windows on its eight sides. In the middle of the floor is a round pillar of 0.4 m in diameter and eight meter high where the national flag with red color and one yellow star in the middle is hung. The whole tower is 33.4 meter high and 41.4 meter wide including the flag pole.

Hanoi Flag Tower is one of the few architectural works in the city which was not destroyed by the French colonial government in 1894-1897. 

On October 10, 1954, for the first time, the national flag waved atop the Tower and was recognized as a historical relic in 1989.

The pride of Hanoian

On the holidays, the traditional New Year's Day, the Hanoi Flag Tower is splendidly decorated in the shimmering light, adding to the Vietnam red flag with yellow stars that is flying forever on the blue sky/ Photo: Kinh te & Do thi

On the unforgettable day, when Hanoi celebrated the Victory Day of the capital liberation, everyone flocked to Hanoi Flag Tower waiting for historic moments: The National Flag raising Ceremony.

It has been nearly two centuries since Hanoi Flag Tower was built. When the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was established, the image of Hanoi Flag Tower was printed on the first currency note issued by the State Bank of Vietnam.

Over half a century, the red flag with the yellow star never stops flying on the top of Hanoi Flag Tower as an immortal symbol of glory and pride of the nation. Hanoi Flag Tower is now the most intact and monumental work in the complex of Thang Long Imperial Citadel and recognized as a historical relic in 1989.

Captain Lan Huong, a tour guide of the Military History Museum, said: “Hanoi Flag Tower is located on Dien Bien Phu street, in Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.  Located at the southern part of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, it was inaugurated in 1812 under the reign of King Gia Long of the Nguyen Dynasty. Before the Covid-19 pandemic occurred, every day, the place welcomed three to four thousand tourists, many of whom many were French, American and European nationals.

Along with Khue Van Cac (Pavilion of the Constellation of Literature), KinhThien Temple, Cua Bac Church, the Hanoi Flag Tower where the national emblem is flown, is considered a symbol of Hanoi that people who are away always think of.