Occupying the stretch of land between West Lake and Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi old citadel was built in the 11th century, and then demolished and reconstructed many times. 'Me last destruction dated back to the period when the French Army launched its offensive against our capital at the end of the 19th century.
Occupying the stretch of land between West Lake and Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi old citadel was built in the 11th century, and then demolished and reconstructed many times. 'Me last destruction dated back to the period when the French Army launched its offensive against our capital at the end of the 19th century.
After the enclosures and the palace had been destroyed, there only remain some vestiges: Along a section of Phan Dinh Phung Street stands the Northern Gate of the rampart built with brick and stone, a solid defensive work. On the rampart, we can still notice a big hollow made by a French shell during the above-mentioned offensive. In Phan Dinh Phung Street stands the Flag Tower built in 1812, 40 metres high, composed of three tiers and a prism-shaped tower in which there is a spiral staircase leading to the top. The ancient palaces have been demolished and only some of' their foundations can still be seen.