Thang Long Imperial Citadel - A place that marks the history of the nation

To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution (August 19, 1945 - August 19, 2025) and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025), on August 19, the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center coordinated with relevant units to organize a series of display and exhibition activities to remind people of the heroic history of the nation.

The highlight is the exhibition at D67 Bunker, Hanoi Flag Tower and the first opening of the Cipher Bunker - General Staff.

Experiential activities for students at the D67 House and Tunnel Relic at Thang Long Imperial Citadel.

Monuments associated with national history

The cultural heritage of Thang Long Imperial Citadel preserves a rich cultural and historical heritage of the nation, from feudal times to the present. In addition to the vestiges of the Ly, Tran, Le dynasties, there are also many important revolutionary relics.

The historical and revolutionary relic House and Bunker D67 is a typical work of the Ho Chi Minh era. In 1967, facing fierce air raids by the US, the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense secretly built a shelter in Zone A of the Ministry of National Defense, named House and Bunker D67 to ensure the safety of the leaders. The project was completed in 1968, becoming the workplace of the Politburo and the Central Military Commission.

Of which, House D67 has an area of 709m², including 3 working rooms and 1 meeting room: Politburo meeting room, General Vo Nguyen Giap's room, General Van Tien Dung's room, and a break room. Meanwhile, Bunker D67 is located 9m underground, designed by the Engineering Command, the most solid at that time, with 3 entrances and exits. This is a top secret location for the Politburo and the Central Military Commission to meet during fierce times. This is the center for strategic planning, commanding decisive campaigns, contributing to the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country.

At the Thang Long Imperial Citadel Heritage Site, there is also the revolutionary relic of the Secret Tunnel - General Staff. The Secret Tunnel is a part of the tunnel system of Area A of Hanoi Citadel, built during the years of resistance against the US, playing an important role in helping the General Headquarters of the Vietnam People's Army maintain command, control and direction over the armies, branches and fronts in the conditions of the US Air Force fiercely attacking the capital Hanoi. The Secret Tunnel was started on February 10, 1966 and completed on June 30, 1966, with a total area of 37.2m², and was most used in December 1972.

The Hanoi Flag Tower (Hanoi Flag Tower) was built during the Nguyen Dynasty (1805-1812) on the foundation of the Chu Tuoc Gate of the Le Dynasty. The architectural work consists of 3 floors with a square base, an octagonal body, and a flagpole at the top. During the Nguyen Dynasty, on holidays, full moon days, and new moon days, the tower flew yellow and red flags symbolizing national sovereignty. Since 1882, the French colonialists turned this place into an observation post, an information station, and flew the French flag. Therefore, on October 10, 1954, for the first time, the Vietnamese national flag flew on top of the Hanoi Flag Tower, affirming an independent and autonomous Vietnam. During the resistance war against the US, this was a combat observation post, reporting the situation when the US bombed Hanoi.

Over 200 years, despite natural disasters and wars, this place has marked important events in the struggle for national independence. Today, Hanoi Flag Tower still stands tall with the red flag with yellow star, symbolizing the will of independence, heroism and aspiration for peace of the capital and the Vietnamese people.

Bringing relics to life

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day September 2, the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center organized an exhibition at 3 famous revolutionary relic sites: the Secret Cellar, House and D67 Cellar, and Hanoi Flag Tower. The highlight is that for the first time, the Secret Cellar is opened to visitors.

Director of the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center Nguyen Thanh Quang said that the above relic sites were restored on the principle of respecting the original relics, maximizing the value of the relics; applying technology in interpretation and display to create an impression to attract visitors, especially young people.

Along with the opening of the Secret Cellar, on this occasion, Thang Long Imperial Citadel organized the exhibition "House and Bunker D67 - Journey to total victory" introducing more than 300 documents and images, including 4 topics: "Gulf of Tonkin incident and the first destructive war"; "The story of House and Bunker D67"; "Defeating 'Vietnamization of the war' and the second destructive war"; "The great victory of Spring 1975". The documents and artifacts clearly depict the glorious period of the nation's resistance against the US, especially the period when the US began to carry out the destructive war in the North, the Politburo, the Central Military Commission, the General Command planned strategies, directed and commanded important campaigns, contributing to the decisive victory, liberating the South, and unifying the country.

At the Hanoi Flag Tower area, from September 1, an exhibition with the theme “Flag Tower/Hanoi Flag Tower - Fatherland and the desire for peace” will open to honor and promote the value of an important historical relic, a place that preserves the cultural and spiritual values of the people of the capital and the Vietnamese nation. The exhibition is presented according to 3 themes: Flag Tower under the Nguyen Dynasty; the French colonial occupation and changes; and an independent Vietnam.

Director of the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center Nguyen Thanh Quang emphasized that the activities and exhibitions this time are of great significance in educating about traditions, meeting the desire of visitors to have a deeper understanding of revolutionary and resistance relics. The activities also contribute to promoting the value of revolutionary and resistance relics in the Thang Long Imperial Citadel Heritage Site, demonstrating the efforts to preserve and bring relics to shine in contemporary life.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/hoang-thanh-thang-long-noi-ghi-dau-lich-su-cua-dan-toc-713015.html