Son Tay Ancient Citadel Heritage Innovation Center

Son Tay town is currently implementing the project "Preservation, restoration and promotion of the historical value of Son Tay Ancient Citadel" (phase 1).

In addition to preserving architectural structures, the project also has a long-term vision to transform Son Tay Ancient Citadel into a center of innovation combined with heritage, a model of sustainable cultural and tourism development that Hanoi is encouraging in localities with rich potential.

Son Tay Citadel was the administrative center of Son Tay town and Son Tay province during the Nguyen Dynasty. Due to its significant cultural and historical importance, along with its unique construction techniques, in 1994, the Son Tay Ancient Citadel was recognized as a National Historical Monument by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism). Over more than 200 years, having suffered numerous wars and the ravages of time, the Son Tay Ancient Citadel has been largely destroyed, with only the city walls, front and back gates, two cannons, and some ruins such as watchtowers, the foundation of the Kinh Thien Palace, and a well remaining.

A reconstructed perspective of a corner of the gate of Son Tay Ancient Citadel.

According to the Son Tay Town Investment and Construction Project Management Board, the project is being implemented based on the map of Son Tay Ancient Citadel during the Nguyen Dynasty in the year Ky Hoi 1839, in the EFEO (Far East Archaeological Institute) photo collection preserved at the Institute of Social Sciences Information (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences). The project to restore and reconstruct Son Tay Ancient Citadel is divided into two phases. Phase 1 (2024-2027) involves the restoration of the Governor-General's Palace, military barracks, and garden system; the restoration of the East Gate and the construction of a new bridge over the West Gate. Phase 2 (2025-2028) involves the restoration of the Judicial Office, the Provincial Governor's Office, along with landscaping, gardens, and the overall connecting space within the citadel. A pedestrian street approximately 820 meters long has been created, stretching from Pho Duc Chinh Street (near the town's People's Committee headquarters) to Cua Tien Bridge (Quang Trung-Nguyen Thai Hoc intersection), with a usable area of ​​over 34,550 ^m² . The access to the moat surrounding the ancient citadel has been renovated, creating viewpoints and steps leading towards the heritage site. This, combined with new paving designs and landscaping, aims to increase interaction with tourists, while also creating spaces for rest, sightseeing, and experiencing the historical site.

To establish a basis for project implementation, the People's Committee of Son Tay town and the Son Tay Town Investment and Construction Project Management Board organized a conference to gather opinions from relevant organizations and individuals. Among them, renowned scientists unanimously supported the restoration and reconstruction of Son Tay Ancient Citadel. Professor, Doctor, and architect Hoang Dao Kinh suggested preserving the ancient citadel in a way that creates a symbiotic relationship between the traditional urban structure and the surrounding urban area.

The restoration of Son Tay Ancient Citadel and its promotion as a cultural and historical park should include open conservation, meaning allowing the heritage to live and develop, similar to Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi. Professor Vu Minh Giang, a member of the National Council for Cultural Heritage, suggested that the excavated artifacts and above-ground structures could be used to create 3D films about the excavation work and the citadel's construction history, offering a tourism product for visitors.

Mr. Le Dai Thang, Vice Chairman of the Son Tay Town People's Committee, said that the restoration and reconstruction of Son Tay Ancient Citadel not only contributes to protecting this special historical site but also serves as a foundation for creating creative spaces with Son Tay's unique identity. It is hoped that this will become a connecting point for tourism in the Doai region, linking historical, cultural, and natural values ​​within a smart and sustainable tourism development ecosystem of the capital city.

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/trung-tam-sang-tao-di-san-thanh-co-son-tay-824739