The "
Hanoi Flagpole" monument, located on Dien Bien Phu Street in Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, was built in 1812 during the reign of King Gia Long of the Nguyen Dynasty on the southern part of Thang Long Imperial Citadel, where the Tam Mon Gate of Thang Long Imperial Citadel was built during the Le Dynasty. This serves as a landmark, marking the southern end of the central axis of the citadel. From here, following the "fishing path," through Doan Mon Gate, one reaches the most important point, the center of the Imperial Citadel: Kinh Thien Palace.
The Hanoi Flagpole is now the most intact and magnificent structure in the Thang Long Imperial Citadel complex. The flagpole consists of three base levels and a column shaft. The base levels are truncated square pyramids, gradually decreasing in size and stacked on top of each other, surrounded by brick cladding. The first level is 42.5m long on each side and 3.1m high, with two brick staircases leading up. The second level is 27m long on each side and 3.7m high, with four doors: the east-facing door inscribed with the words "Nghênh Húc" (welcoming the morning light), the west-facing door with the words "Hồi Quang" (reflected light), the south-facing door with the words "Hướng Minh" (facing the light), and the north-facing door without inscriptions. The third level is 12.8m long on each side and 5.1m high, with a staircase leading up to the north. Above this level is the flagpole shaft, 18.2m high, an octagonal cylinder tapering towards the top, with each side of the base measuring approximately 2m. Inside the structure is a spiral staircase with 54 steps leading to the top. The entire structure is illuminated (and ventilated) by 39 fan-shaped openings. The top of the Flagpole is an octagonal pavilion, 3.3m high, with 8 windows corresponding to the eight sides. In the center of the pavilion is a cylindrical column, 40cm in diameter and extending to the top, where the flagpole is inserted (the flagpole is 8m high). The entire Flagpole is 33.4m high, or 41.4m including the flagpole.
The "Hanoi Flagpole" is one of the few architectural structures in the Hanoi citadel area that fortunately escaped destruction by the French colonial government during the three years from 1894 to 1897. On October 10, 1954, the red flag with a yellow star – the national flag – flew for the first time atop the "Hanoi Flagpole," and it was recognized as a historical monument in 1989. On that day, the whole of Hanoi was jubilantly celebrating the great day, the Victory Day, the complete liberation of the capital city. The entire city of Hanoi gathered at the "Hanoi Flagpole" to await the historic moment: the flag-raising ceremony atop the "Hanoi Flagpole." At exactly 3 PM on October 10, 1954, the siren of the City Theater sounded a long blast. The military band played the national anthem under the direction of Comrade Dinh Ngoc Lien, and the national flag was slowly raised to the rhythm of the marching music. For the first time, the red flag with a yellow star – the national flag – flew atop the "Hanoi Flagpole". Since its construction, the "Hanoi Flagpole" is nearly two hundred years old. When the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was established, the image of the "Hanoi Flagpole" was prominently printed on the first banknotes issued by the State Bank of Vietnam. For more than half a century, the five-pointed red flag with a yellow star has flown majestically atop the "Hanoi Flagpole," proudly soaring against the sky of Thang Long-Hanoi, the thousand-year-old capital of Vietnam, forever a symbol of glory and pride for the independent and free nation. According to research documents, since 1986, a red flag with a yellow star, measuring 24 square meters, has always flown atop the Hanoi Flagpole. Today, the Hanoi Flagpole is located on
Dien Bien Phu Street, surrounded by ancient mahogany trees, and at its base lies a lush longan orchard.
According to some research documents, in a photograph taken in 1890 by Louis Sadoul, a French military doctor, the area of the Lenin Monument garden at the foot of the flagpole today was formerly Elephant Lake, used for bathing elephants by the Nguyen Dynasty. The ancient trees that stand today had not yet been planted. The photograph also shows the French army erecting semi-permanent barracks on the ramparts of the flagpole to station their troops. During this period, the Hanoi flagpole was also used by the French as an observation post. During the American bombing campaign, the flagpole served as an observation post for Hanoi's air defense forces. From the top of the flagpole, one could see both Hanoi and its suburbs. Remarkably, even on the hottest days in Hanoi, the temperature inside the flagpole remained cool, as if air-conditioned. The structure of the flagpole's entrances and exits was also so
scientifically designed that no matter how heavy the rain, water would not leak into the tower. Source: https://hoangthanhthanglong.vn/blog/2013/08/22/cot-co-ha-noi/
The Hanoi Flagpole is now the most intact and magnificent structure in the Thang Long Imperial Citadel complex. The flagpole consists of three base levels and a column shaft. The base levels are truncated square pyramids, gradually decreasing in size and stacked on top of each other, surrounded by brick cladding. The first level is 42.5m long on each side and 3.1m high, with two brick staircases leading up. The second level is 27m long on each side and 3.7m high, with four doors: the east-facing door inscribed with the words "Nghênh Húc" (welcoming the morning light), the west-facing door with the words "Hồi Quang" (reflected light), the south-facing door with the words "Hướng Minh" (facing the light), and the north-facing door without inscriptions. The third level is 12.8m long on each side and 5.1m high, with a staircase leading up to the north. Above this level is the flagpole shaft, 18.2m high, an octagonal cylinder tapering towards the top, with each side of the base measuring approximately 2m. Inside the structure is a spiral staircase with 54 steps leading to the top. The entire structure is illuminated (and ventilated) by 39 fan-shaped openings. The top of the Flagpole is an octagonal pavilion, 3.3m high, with 8 windows corresponding to the eight sides. In the center of the pavilion is a cylindrical column, 40cm in diameter and extending to the top, where the flagpole is inserted (the flagpole is 8m high). The entire Flagpole is 33.4m high, or 41.4m including the flagpole. 
The "Hanoi Flagpole" is one of the few architectural structures in the Hanoi citadel area that fortunately escaped destruction by the French colonial government during the three years from 1894 to 1897. On October 10, 1954, the red flag with a yellow star – the national flag – flew for the first time atop the "Hanoi Flagpole," and it was recognized as a historical monument in 1989. On that day, the whole of Hanoi was jubilantly celebrating the great day, the Victory Day, the complete liberation of the capital city. The entire city of Hanoi gathered at the "Hanoi Flagpole" to await the historic moment: the flag-raising ceremony atop the "Hanoi Flagpole." At exactly 3 PM on October 10, 1954, the siren of the City Theater sounded a long blast. The military band played the national anthem under the direction of Comrade Dinh Ngoc Lien, and the national flag was slowly raised to the rhythm of the marching music. For the first time, the red flag with a yellow star – the national flag – flew atop the "Hanoi Flagpole". Since its construction, the "Hanoi Flagpole" is nearly two hundred years old. When the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was established, the image of the "Hanoi Flagpole" was prominently printed on the first banknotes issued by the State Bank of Vietnam. For more than half a century, the five-pointed red flag with a yellow star has flown majestically atop the "Hanoi Flagpole," proudly soaring against the sky of Thang Long-Hanoi, the thousand-year-old capital of Vietnam, forever a symbol of glory and pride for the independent and free nation. According to research documents, since 1986, a red flag with a yellow star, measuring 24 square meters, has always flown atop the Hanoi Flagpole. Today, the Hanoi Flagpole is located on Dien Bien Phu Street, surrounded by ancient mahogany trees, and at its base lies a lush longan orchard. 
According to some research documents, in a photograph taken in 1890 by Louis Sadoul, a French military doctor, the area of the Lenin Monument garden at the foot of the flagpole today was formerly Elephant Lake, used for bathing elephants by the Nguyen Dynasty. The ancient trees that stand today had not yet been planted. The photograph also shows the French army erecting semi-permanent barracks on the ramparts of the flagpole to station their troops. During this period, the Hanoi flagpole was also used by the French as an observation post. During the American bombing campaign, the flagpole served as an observation post for Hanoi's air defense forces. From the top of the flagpole, one could see both Hanoi and its suburbs. Remarkably, even on the hottest days in Hanoi, the temperature inside the flagpole remained cool, as if air-conditioned. The structure of the flagpole's entrances and exits was also so scientifically designed that no matter how heavy the rain, water would not leak into the tower. Source: https://hoangthanhthanglong.vn/blog/2013/08/22/cot-co-ha-noi/
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