Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Ba Dinh Archaeological Site

Our first trips in Hanoi were to the Thang Long Imperial Citadel and Ba Dinh Archaeological Site. They'd discovered the archaeological site just five or six years ago, while excavating to do some building. At this point, they've now uncovered evidence and remains from seven major dynasties, and the work continues. The Citadel is quite spectacular, and has much renovation work underway. The Vietnamese are working to obtain World Heritage listing for the site. While here we talked much about the relationship between urban conservation and heritage tourism.


The dragons flanking the Citadel. These are reportedly the largest dragons in Hanoi.



This is the war room. During the Vietnam-American War, while the city of Hanoi was being bombed, the Vietnamese generals gathered here to develop their plans. These are not generally public spaces.



I couldn't pass up these statues, seen through an adjacent door in a building we were passing. They just screamed Soviet to me, and brought me back to an earlier life.... Below, one of the main gates to the Citadel complex. We didn't stay up top long, as workers were removing asbestos from a nearby building (it was once used for roofing).



We walked down the street to the archaeological complex, passing the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum along the way. I've seen Lenin twice, so didn't feel the need to visit here on my off day, but loved the photo op of the wedding couple out front.

On-going excavation work at the complex. Pottery being sorted in the warehouse. One of the major sculptures uncovered at the site in the small museum space.