Thang Long Imperial Citadel: Ancient breath in modern life

VTV.vn - Thang Long Imperial Citadel - once the center of power of the Ly, Tran, and Le dynasties - has now become a "living heritage site" in the heart of the city.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of downtown Hanoi , the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long still quietly maintains its own rhythm: slow and calm, just like its thousand-year history. Once the center of power of the Ly, Tran, and Le dynasties, it has now become a “living heritage site” in the heart of the city.

Photo: Hai Hung

Historical sedimentary layers

Thang Long Imperial Citadel is closely associated with the history of Thang Long - Hanoi capital. This massive architectural work was built by dynasties in many historical periods and became the most important relic in the system of Vietnamese relics.

Thang Long Imperial Citadel is a testament to the continuous development of Dai Viet civilization over more than 13 centuries. With its ancient architecture, vestiges of many feudal dynasties and great cultural values, this place was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage in 2010.

As the center of political power through many dynasties, this place marked important decisions that shaped the country's destiny. The remaining relics, from the city gate, Kinh Thien Palace to archaeological remains, all have great historical and cultural value, reflecting the development of architectural art and thinking of ancient Vietnamese people. The Imperial Citadel is also a symbol of the spirit of building and defending the country, the resilience of the nation through many ups and downs.

Excavations since 2002 have uncovered thousands of artifacts - from bricks, tiles, ceramics, palace foundations to traces of moats and column foundations. Each layer of soil excavated represents a dynasty: Ly, Tran, Le, Nguyen... stacked on top of each other like an unfinished history page. It is this continuity over more than thirteen centuries that has made Thang Long Imperial Citadel one of the few heritage sites in the world that clearly reflects the flow of power and national culture.

Photo: Hai Hung

Walking through the relic site, each step is like walking through layers of history - from Dai La citadel of Cao Bien, Thang Long citadel of Ly - Tran, to Kinh Thien palace of the early Le dynasty and the vestiges of the Central Palace during the resistance war.

The ruined brick walls and palace foundations lying silently underground seem to still "breathe", still telling stories of a capital that was once brilliant for a thousand years.

“In the heart of Hanoi, it is strange that there is still a place that makes you feel like you are talking to your ancestors” - that is the sharing of a researcher at the Thang Long Heritage Conservation Center. Perhaps, that simple saying is also the common feeling of many people - those who believe that keeping the past is not for nostalgia, but to better understand the path ahead.

When heritage is preserved with love and retold in a new language, it is no longer the past - but becomes a living present, where today's Hanoians can reflect on themselves, be proud and move forward.

Cultural meeting place of Hanoi people

The relic site lies quietly in the center of Hanoi like a quiet space preserving the mark of a thousand years of history. The place where the drums of the opening ceremony once resounded, has now become a meeting place for tourists from all over the world, those who want to touch the depth of Vietnamese culture with both their eyes and hearts.

Twenty years since being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage, Thang Long Imperial Citadel is being revived in many ways: from restoration, scientific research to experiential activities, tourism and heritage education.

Photo: Hai Hung

Not only an archaeological site, the Imperial Citadel has now become a space connecting the past and the present. Every festival season, groups of students, tourists, artists, and researchers come here to contribute to "awakening" the heritage. The Ao Dai performances in the relic site, the reenactments of the coronation ceremony, or the exhibition "Thang Long seen from underground" are all efforts to prevent the heritage from falling asleep.

If in the past, people came to the Imperial Citadel mainly to see artifacts, now the way of "heritage storytelling" has changed. The Management Board of the Relic Site is implementing a series of digitalization projects, 3D reconstruction of ancient structures, and introducing the night tour Decoding the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long - where visitors are led through historical stories using light, sound and projection mapping technology. That experience allows people to both "see" and "feel" the past: the sound of festival drums, the sound of ancient horse hooves, and the flickering candlelight at Kinh Thien Palace are vividly recreated, as if bringing history closer to the present.

In parallel, art exchanges, folk performances, photo exhibitions and “heritage check-in” spaces are also held periodically. These innovations transform the Imperial Citadel from a solemn place into a friendly destination, open to the public - where young people can find pride, and international visitors can feel the depth of Vietnamese culture.

In the heart of the bustling city, Thang Long Imperial Citadel still quietly shines as a “lifeblood” of Hanoi. Each brick and tile here contains the memories of a thousand years of history, adding cultural energy to the ever-changing city.

Source: https://vtv.vn/hoang-thanh-thang-long-hoi-tho-xua-trong-nhip-song-nay-10025110510465388.htm