The secret of life of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, not inferior to Chinese archery movies

After 15 years of excavation, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long reveals the life of the Vietnamese royal palace full of sophistication and authority. Not only is it a political center, but it also reflects the unique royal culture, which is not inferior to famous ancient capitals in Asia.

From 2011 to 2025, millions of relics excavated at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long helped restore Vietnamese royal life through the Ly, Tran, and Le so dynasties. Not only a place to rule the country, Thang Long Imperial Palace is also a living space of the royal family with unique cultural features: utensils, water well systems, palace foundations, decorative items and even traces of international trade.

One of the special highlights is the bending pottery – a type of ceramic made specifically for the king, with dragon, cloud, and lotus patterns. The bowls, plates, and pottery of blue flowers in the Le So Dynasty not only serve daily life but also show royal class. Many of the artifacts also show a clear distinction between the belongings of the king, queen and the royal classes, reflecting the etiquette and order in the court.

Kinh Thien Palace – the center of power of Thang Long Capital – was restored using 3D technology, revealing massive palace architecture, soaring tile roofs, solid foundations, showing the highest level of planning and fine arts in the Ly Dynasty. This space used to be the place to hold important ceremonies such as coronation ceremonies, envoys, decrees and sacrifices to heaven and earth.

Many Vietnamese people are familiar with the image of the Chinese royal palace through movies such as Dien Hy Cong Luoc, Nhu Y Story, but in fact, the Thang Long royal palace also owns an equally unique royal life. From the architecture of Kinh Thien palace, bending tools, guns of the Le period, to the system of water wells and underground sewers of the Ly dynasty – all show a sophisticated, unique and full of Vietnamese identity royal culture.

Archaeological traces show that the Thang Long Imperial Palace is not only a place where important ceremonies take place but also reflects the daily life of the royal family. The ancient wells, underground sewer systems, kitchen foundations, and storage show a clear, comfortable, and planned division of space. The living area of the queen and the courtesan is arranged separately, with an underground passage connected to the main halls, ensuring discreetness and safety.

In particular, items such as ceramic vases, porcelain cups, bronze ornaments, jade... all bear the imprint of royal art, showing high-class aesthetic taste and cultural exchanges with countries in the region such as China, Japan, and North Korea. Some of the artifacts also show the influence of Buddhism and Taoism on the spiritual life of the royal family, from statues and bronze bells to scripture inscriptions.

Researchers are proposing to build the Digital Museum of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, applying modern technology to recreate the life of the royal palace, from ceremonies, costumes to daily activities. The digitized data system will help visitors interact, explore and understand more deeply about Vietnamese royal culture.

The goal is to turn the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long into a "living heritage city" – where heritage is not only preserved but also told in a modern language, close and attractive to the younger generation. This is not only a journey to restore history, but also a way for Vietnamese people to better understand the roots of the once brilliant royal culture in the heart of Hanoi.