The Thang Long Imperial Citadel is the cultural complex built in the 11th century by the Ly Viet Dynasty, marking the independence of the Dai Viet and subsequently expanded by the Tran, Le and finally the Nguyen Dynasty.

Constructed on the remains of a Chinese fortress dating from the 7th century, on drained land reclaimed from the Red River Delta in Hanoi. It was the center of regional political power for almost 13 centuries without interruption.

The Imperial Citadel buildings and the remains in the 18 Hoang Dieu Archaeological Site reflect a unique South-East Asian culture specific to the lower Red River Valley, at the crossroads between influences coming from China in the north and the ancient Kingdom of Champa in the south.

The Thang Long Imperial Citadel has become the 900th site to be inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2010.