With unique architecture, Son Tay Ancient Citadel is one of the destinations not to be missed when visiting the capital. Up to the present time, this is the largest surviving stronghold in Hanoi. That is also the reason why every year, this place attracts thousands of visitors to visit and discover the beauty of its long history.
Those are poems about famous historical sites that tourists cannot ignore when coming to Hanoi. From the capital, along Highway 32 to the west about 45km to the territory of Son Tay town, visitors will encounter a solid ancient citadel with a history of nearly 200 years with extremely unique architecture.
Calm blue lake with walls made of laterite.
Where is the citadel located in Hanoi?
The citadel is located in the center of Son Tay town – Hanoi, in the land of two ancient villages Thuan Nghe and Mai Trai. This is a military citadel, built of laterite, a traditional and very popular material in the Son Tay region.
What’s special about Son Tay Citadel?
In the program at Hoan My Tourism, visitors will discover firsthand the unique architecture of Son Tay Ancient Citadel. The citadel was built in the vauban style, has a square architecture, each length is about 400m, 5m high, the wall surface is 4m wide and has many observation holes for soldiers hiding inside to shoot guns out or use spears to attack when facing enemies. trying to climb the wall.
Son Tay ancient citadel has four gates facing East, West, South and North directions and respectively named: Left gate, Right gate, Tien gate and Hau gate. On each door there is a gazebo (watch tower).
Around the citadel there is a moat 3m deep, 20m wide, about 2,000m in circumference. The citadel is connected to the Tich Giang River at the southwest corner of the citadel.
The main architectural axis of the citadel is the axis connecting the two front and back gates.
On the far side of the main citadel, there is an outer wall called La Thanh, which is covered with earth, 3.5m high, pentagonal shape, surrounded by dense bamboo ramparts. The outer wall also opens four gates overlooking four directions: East, West, South, North.
Cool dating place for young couples.
Part of this citadel is now La Thanh street. Inside the citadel, important works are built symmetrically on the central axis of South – North. In the middle is “Vong Cung Mai”, which is the king’s place to rest when he goes on patrol and is also the place for the mandarins in the town to offer annual sacrifices, or “worship” whenever there is a decree from the king.
In front of Kinh Thien Palace is a large brick courtyard, outside the gate there is a screen built of bricks, on top of which is embossed with the image of “long Van Khanh Hoi” (dragon and clouds meet the assembly). Next is Doan Mon with three doors. , looking directly at the tower about 18m high built on a large laterite pedestal.
Laterite steps lead up to the ancient mossy attic.
To the west is the Martial Temple, a place of worship for those who died while fighting to protect the citadel. At the four corners of Son Tay ancient citadel, there are four large square wells, about 6m deep, and even steps built of laterite. down to the bottom.
Next to it are the residences and public roads of the provincial officials. To the east there was a prison camp, a warehouse, and the residence of the wives and children of the soldiers stationed in the city.
Citadel and historical stories
In 1884, the French army captured the citadel. In 1924, the Governor General of Indochina at that time Martial Henri Merlin issued a decree ranking this ancient citadel. In particular, in December 1946, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam held an important meeting here.
An ancient city gate on the side of the ancient banyan tree.
Over nearly 200 years, after many wars and time, Son Tay ancient citadel has been largely destroyed. Currently, there are only vestiges of some sections of the city wall, the city gate and a few remaining works in the ancient citadel area such as the gazebo, Kinh Thien palace foundation, water well, two cannons…
With these special values, in 1994, the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) recognized the Son Tay ancient citadel as a National Historic Landmark.
In 2009, the Hanoi People’s Committee issued a decision to renovate, embellish and restore a number of relics in this Citadel to serve the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi.
Happy season.
Currently, Son Tay laterite citadel has become a unique historical, cultural and military architectural relic that attracts visitors. In the spring, visiting the ancient citadel of Son Tay, visitors will see rows of cold rice trees showing off new leaves. In March, rice flowers bloom red. Autumn comes to rows of wild locusts that shine yellow.
The most special is the image of hundreds of years old trees that give shade all year round and stretch their rough roots over the years, embracing the mossy ancient walls and gates, creating an unforgettable impression when Visit Son Tay Ancient Citadel .
Source: Collected internet.