How to 'awaken' the Emperor?

The Imperial Citadel (An Nhon Ward, Gia Lai Province), once the capital of Vietnam and deeply imbued with three layers of Champa, Tay Son, and Nguyen dynasties culture, remains quietly untouched by time, yet to be "awakened" to its full potential as a national heritage and tourist destination.

Capital city twice, three layers of culture

Few historical sites in Vietnam contain as many layers of historical sediment as Hoang De Citadel. It was once the bustling capital of Do Ban for the Champa people for centuries. In the late 18th century, King Thai Duc Nguyen Nhac of the Tay Son dynasty chose this area as his center of power, elevating Do Ban to a new capital and naming it Hoang De Citadel. Researchers call Hoang De Citadel a "living museum" as it simultaneously preserves three cultural layers: Champa, Tay Son, and Nguyen dynasties.

The central area of ​​the Imperial Citadel preserves three layers of culture: Champa, Tay Son, and Nguyen Dynasty.

PHOTO: DUNG NHAN

Through excavations, the appearance of the Imperial Citadel gradually became clear: a complex of three concentric walls (Outer Citadel, Inner Citadel, and Sub-Citadel), all with a rectangular structure. The total area is over 364 hectares. The Inner Citadel, or Imperial Citadel, covers 20 hectares; while the Sub-Citadel (the smaller citadel), the "heart" of the capital, is confined to nearly 4 hectares, but it was the center of supreme power.

Excavations have uncovered many unique structures such as crescent-shaped lakes, lotus-leaf-shaped lakes, the foundation of the Octagonal Palace, the Quyển Bồng Palace from the Tây Sơn dynasty, and the foundation of the Chiêu Trung Temple of the Nguyễn dynasty... Particularly noteworthy is the Tây Sơn-era rock garden, featuring three large boulders rising as pillars, flanked by ancient fig and banyan trees, symbolizing longevity and prosperity. Simultaneously, the Nam Giao altar area has also been excavated, revealing traces of its foundation and surrounding walls, further confirming the solemn scale of an ancient capital.

Priceless relics

Beyond the majestic Fairy Wing Tower and moss-covered ramparts, the Imperial Citadel is a treasure trove of rare artifacts, including national treasures. Most notably, the pair of Champa stone lions from the 11th-12th centuries, recognized as national treasures in 2024, were found near the Fairy Wing Tower and are now on display at the Gia Lai Museum. These statues are considered the pinnacle of Champa sculpture. Around the tomb of Vo Tanh, three other stone lion statues remain, contributing to a vibrant and mysterious complex, reminiscent of a glorious Champa dynasty.

Traces of a rock garden within the Imperial Citadel.

PHOTO: HOANG TRONG

The two stone elephants of Do Ban Citadel stand majestically before the Inner Citadel gate, like "divine beasts" guarding the ancient capital. These two Champa sculptures from the 12th-13th centuries were recognized as national treasures in 2023. With their enormous size and robust lines, these are the largest elephant statues ever discovered in Champa sculpture, exuding the majestic and regal aura of a glorious era.

While the stone elephants evoke the majesty of the ancient capital, the pair of guardian statues currently located at Nhan Son Pagoda (dating back to the 12th-13th centuries, recognized as national treasures since 2019) bring a sacred and mysterious aura, reflecting the depth of Champa beliefs. In folklore, the two statues are affectionately called "Mr. Red - Mr. Black". French archaeologist Henri Parmentier once considered them typical examples of classical Champa sculpture, which were present and worshipped in the ancient Do Ban temple complex.

Conservation requires a long-term vision.

In 1982, Hoang De Citadel was classified as a national historical site. By 2022, Binh Dinh (now merged into Gia Lai province) had marked the boundaries to protect the site and approved several projects such as building a temple dedicated to King Thai Duc Nguyen Nhac, restoring the Nam Giao altar, and beautifying the landscape. Mr. Bui Tinh, Director of the Gia Lai Provincial Museum (the unit managing the Hoang De Citadel historical site), said that the project to build a temple dedicated to King Thai Duc Nguyen Nhac has completed all procedures, design, site selection, and has been approved by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and is awaiting funding for implementation.

Statue of a female elephant at Do Ban citadel.

PHOTO: HOANG TRONG

According to researcher Nguyen Thanh Quang (Gia Lai Provincial Historical Science Association), the complexity of the citadel, with its overlapping layers of cultural strata, has led to differing opinions among historians and archaeologists regarding the scale and structure of the Imperial Citadel. The foundations believed to be the former palace or rear palace of the Tay Son dynasty remain questionable due to insufficient convincing scientific evidence. Even the scale and structure of the Forbidden City and the Inner Citadel are subject to differing opinions. Therefore, restoration work has only focused on certain sections of the southern, eastern, and western walls of the Forbidden City. Visitors still find it difficult to fully appreciate the form of an ancient imperial palace.

Mr. Quang believes that a large-scale scientific conference, bringing together experts in history, archaeology, and architecture, is needed to provide long-term direction. Archaeological excavations must have a dual objective: scientific research and heritage restoration, avoiding the imposition or misrepresentation of history. Only with a solid foundation can the Imperial Citadel truly be "awakened."

Statue of a male elephant at Do Ban citadel.

PHOTO: HOANG TRONG

Associate Professor Phan Ngoc Huyen (Hanoi University of Education) argues that preservation must be linked to tourism development. An Nhon, with its many traditional craft villages, could create an attractive cultural, historical, and craft village tourism route by connecting the Imperial Citadel with the Fairy Wing Tower, Nhan Son Pagoda, Vo Thanh Mausoleum, etc. But that's not all; the area needs a modern information center, 3D models, a multilingual interpretation system, a space recreating Champa festivals and Tay Son rituals, and importantly, the local community must participate, from acting as tour guides to providing tourism services, to connect with the relics and benefit from them.

The Imperial Citadel is not just a silent ruin, but a historical and cultural "gold mine," a convergence of Champa, Tay Son, and Nguyen dynasty influences. With a persistent and coordinated strategy, this place could absolutely become a unique archaeological and cultural tourism center of Central Vietnam, where every stone slab and every statue lives on in the present day.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lam-sao-danh-thuc-thanh-hoang-de-185251024221539987.htm