What will happen after the excavation—whether to fill the site with sand to protect it or to develop a conservation plan to "tell" the story of this heritage site—is a matter that needs careful and scientific consideration.
Artifacts and archaeological value
Beyond its architectural scale, the cultural layers of the Dền citadel also reveal numerous artifacts reflecting the daily life and historical use spanning centuries. Associate Professor Dr. Dang Hung Son, Deputy Head of the History Department ( Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities), assessed: "Excavations related to the Hoa Lu ancient citadel system are not numerous. The materials from the excavations conducted by the National Museum of History in the late 1960s, though limited, are very valuable."
It was during that period that archaeologists discovered bricks bearing the distinctive motifs of Hoa Lu, such as lotus flowers and paired phoenixes—rare specimens in the treasure trove of ancient architectural materials. However, due to the limited technical conditions and research methods at the time, understanding of the citadel's structure was not yet comprehensive.
More significantly, archaeologists also discovered many fragments of glazed pottery and red bricks characteristic of the 10th century, the period when the Dinh and Early Le dynasties established their capital in Hoa Lu. In addition, glazed pottery from the Ly-Tran dynasties, and glazed stoneware from the Late Le and Nguyen dynasties were found scattered in the upper layers of soil, indicating that the Den citadel area continued to be used, renovated, or inhabited throughout history.
Regarding the excavation of the Dền citadel section in 2025, Associate Professor Dr. Dang Hung Son believes that this is a high-quality research project, providing important insights into citadel construction techniques. He hopes that in the future, researchers can expand the scope of the survey beyond just technical aspects, placing it within a specific socio-historical context. “For example, we need to understand more clearly how King Dinh and King Le organized the construction of the citadel, the volume of earth used, the number of people involved, and the construction time… These figures and calculations will help bring to life the picture of the organization and operation of the nation during its early period,” he shared.
Den Citadel is the largest section of the Hoa Lu ancient citadel system. According to Mr. Truong Dinh Tuong, Chairman of the Ninh Binh Provincial Historical Science Association: "Not only does it play a military role, this section of the citadel also has extremely important irrigation significance. In the 9th-10th centuries, when dike systems like the Ngu Xa dike had not yet appeared, Den Citadel may have played a role in both preventing floods and protecting the inner city area, where warehouses, military barracks, and palaces were concentrated. Therefore, Den Citadel can be considered a strategic defense and water regulation structure."
Mr. Tuong also shared a personal anecdote: “In 1984-1985, while on a field trip with Professor Tran Quoc Vuong, the professor expressed his desire for a major archaeological excavation of the ancient Hoa Lu citadel, especially the Den citadel area. He also emphasized that the word “Den” could be related to a place name from the Bronze Age, suggesting a deeper historical layer for this site.”
Directions for preserving and promoting values
Archaeological excavation is only the first step. More importantly, the question is how to preserve and tell the story of the ancient Hoa Lu citadel effectively, convincingly, and sustainably. According to Dr. Ha Van Can, Director of the Institute of Archaeology: "Excavation is not only for research but also for preservation. In many places, such as the Den citadel in Hai Duong, the upper part has been completely lost, making it impossible to study cross-sections. But in Hoa Lu, the citadel walls are still intact, which is very valuable for future restoration work."
He also suggested continuing the survey of other sections of the citadel to check the consistency of construction techniques: “The ancient Hoa Lu citadel generally utilized topographical features such as mountains and rivers to form a defensive position. With the Den section, the citadel line ran along the Hoang Long River, serving as both a military defense line and a natural moat. Expanding excavations at different points within the citadel system will help build a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of the scale and structure of the entire ancient Hoa Lu citadel.”
From a tourism perspective, Mr. Nguyen Cao Tan, Deputy Director of the Ninh Binh Provincial Department of Tourism, believes that the excavation of the Den citadel section has provided the "most complete and comprehensive cross-section" of one of the most important sections of the ancient capital's citadel. "The Den citadel runs parallel to the Hoang Long River, a vital waterway, showing that the ancient Hoa Lu capital was not only a capital but also an important trading center, with close proximity to the sea."
Mr. Tan hopes that archaeologists will continue searching for traces of "water gates," where rivers or swamps connected to the citadel. If the location and operating mechanism of these water gates are discovered, it will be a significant step in reconstructing the living and working spaces of the 10th-century inhabitants. "If we can recreate the scene of 'boats on the water' right within the historical site, where people, boats, trade, and fortifications all converged, it will be a vibrant and particularly attractive historical space for tourists," Mr. Tan emphasized.
Furthermore, to enhance the value of heritage in contemporary life, experts also propose the application of digital technology in conservation work. Digitizing archaeological data, recreating fortress models using 3D technology, or integrating the Den Fortress into Ninh Binh's smart tourism map are feasible approaches. Virtual reality (VR) tours or designing outdoor exhibition spaces linked to tourist routes can create a series of vivid and attractive historical experiences for domestic and international tourists.
Heritage should not be limited to numbers or artifacts, but should become a living story, helping today's generation understand the efforts and wisdom of their ancestors in building and defending the nation. In addition, Mr. Truong Dinh Tuong emphasized that archaeological excavations at the Den section of the citadel have further strengthened the hypothesis about the "inner citadel," a place used to hide troops and store assets, located inside the "outer citadel," which was considered the center of the ancient capital. "The value of this section of the citadel is immense, and there are now businesses ready to cooperate with the State to continue the excavation," he added.
The Dền citadel walls were once forgotten, buried under layers of earth for nearly 70 years. But from those underground, the silent traces are being reread, not only through archaeological tools, but also through historical consciousness. The foundation structure made from leaves and tree trunks; the citadel walls shaped like "buffalo horns"; the deep moat to prevent intrusion... all are like "slices of stratigraphy" recounting the defensive techniques of the Vietnamese people from the time of nation-building.
However, the issue currently attracting public attention is how to preserve the Hoa Lu citadel, specifically the Den section. Should the area be filled with earth and sand for protection, or should the excavated site be preserved for the restoration project? According to a private source, a company has proposed a plan to reconstruct the Den citadel using stone walls. If this plan is approved, it will distort the original relic because during the excavation process, archaeologists have clarified that the structure and construction techniques of the citadel were based solely on earth, stone, and vegetation…
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/doi-mat-voi-giai-phap-bao-ton-145153.html
![[Infographic] Intellectual Property Development in Dong Thap Province, 2026-2030](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/402x226/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/03/08/1772939768643_phat-trien-tai-san-tri-tue-tren-dia-ban-tinh-dong-thap-giai-doan-2026-203020260308064829.webp)
Comment (0)