Hanoi: the capital of Vietnam with a legacy founded from more than 1000 years of bearing witness to power, resistance and country-defining moments.
Situated on the western banks of the Red River in Vietnam’s subtropical north, Hanoi retains a steadfast identity as the cultural and political heart of the nation, steeped in centuries of tradition and visually defined by its distinctive blend of dynastic-era monuments and colonial French architecture.
Previously known as “Thang Long” – literally “Soaring Dragon” – before being renamed "Hà Nội" in 1831, an enduring attitude of cultural preservation has enabled the storied city to retain the integrity of its some 6,500 relic sites.
As the capital prepares to enter one of the most significant public holidays in the Vietnamese calendar year on September 2nd, marking the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and the country’s founding, here’s a look at some of the historical landmarks which trace a path through the country’s path to independence.
Ba Dinh Square & Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Modern Vietnam’s story of independence begins at the historic site of Ba Dinh Square, where President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence on 2 September 1945 to mark the end of the country’s era of French colonial rule and the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Located at the western gate of the former Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the popular relic site canvasses an area of 32,000 square meters – the largest square in Vietnam – featuring 240 neatly divided squares of maintained lawn watched over by the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and a surrounding of important government buildings.
Housed within the impressive structure of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum lies the body of the revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh, embalmed within a glass case and open to public viewing under strict conditions of respect and solemnity. Soldiers maintain watchful guard as the national flag is raised and lowered each day.
House at 48 Hang Ngang Street
The three-storey tube house nestled in Hanoi’s Old Quarter once operated as a successful silk shop run by enterprising couple Trinh Van Bo and Hoang Thi Minh Ho, a front which later housed President Ho Chi Minh and his Politburo in the days leading up to the nation’s independence on 2 September.
Common legend carves the sketch of a revolutionary leader who spent his hours at a desk in a second-floor room of House No. 48 from August 25 to early September, drafting the Declaration of Independence and discussing key policies with his interim government which would eventually lead to the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square.
Designated as a national historic site in 1979, the house and its associated documents and artefacts are now maintained by the Hanoi Relic and Landscape Management Board.
The site has recently been marked with a new commemorative plaque for the occasion of this year’s 80th-year anniversary celebrations.
August Revolution Square & Hanoi Opera House
Further south of House No. 48 in the Hanoi Old Quarter lies August Revolution Square, site of the two major independence movement rallies which took place as part of the country’s successful August Revolution of 1945.
Thousands of citizens lined the streets of the 2,600 square-meter site to bear witness to the songs of revolution which would eventually deliver Hanoi into the hands of President Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary government. Formerly known as the Opera House Square during the French colonial period, it was officially renamed August Revolution Square in 1994 and later designated a historical site in 2011.
The Hanoi Opera House stands in-line with the square, an iconic contribution of classical European architecture to the many visual layers of Hanoi’s history. Construction of the Opera House began in 1901 and spanned a decade, designed to be a cultural center and amplifier for French ballet and theater during colonial times. It remains home to a swathe of academic art and cultural performances today.
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
Stepping further back in time to Vietnam’s millennial history, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long traces a line back to the Ly Dynasty of the 11th century in which Hanoi was founded under its legacy name of “Thang Long” by Emperor Ly Thai. The name of the new capital, then relocated from Hoa Lu, translated to “Rising Dragon” in recognition of Hanoi’s strategic and geomantic positioning.
Built atop the remains of a 7th century Chinese fortress, the citadel played an enduring role as the site of regional political power for almost 13 continuous centuries.
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, the citadel now features a host of military bunkers, archaeological digs, and ancient palace remains, some excavated as late finds following a period of structural damage sustained during the French period.
