DISCOVERING HO DYNASTY CITADEL - THE ONLY REMAINING STONE CITADEL IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.

The Ho Dynasty Citadel is not only a valuable cultural heritage but also a symbol of Vietnamese history. Built-in the 13th century, the Ho Dynasty Citadel carries many stories and secrets of the feudal period. This is an important place not only for local people but also attracts the attention of international tourists. This article will help you better understand the Ho Dynasty Citadel, from its history, and architecture to the cultural values it brings to us today.

I. History of Formation and Development of Ho Dynasty Citadel

The history of the formation and development of the Ho Dynasty Citadel is an inseparable part of Vietnamese history. This place used to be the capital of the Ho Dynasty, one of the short-lived dynasties but had many important contributions to the country's civilization.

Historical background

The citadel began to be built in the spring of January, Dinh Suu year 1397, Quang Thai year 10, under the reign of King Thuan Tong of the Tran dynasty. The person who decided on the construction policy was Ho Quy Ly. Ho Quy Ly built a new citadel in An Ton cave (now in Vinh Long and Vinh Tien communes, Vinh Loc district, Thanh Hoa province), as a new capital with the name Tay Do, to force the Tran dynasty to move the capital there in preparation for the abolition of the Tran dynasty.

In March of Canh Than year (March 26 to April 24, 1400), the Ho dynasty was established (1400-1407) and Tay Do was the capital of the new dynasty, Thang Long citadel was renamed Dong Do and still played an important role in the country.

Geographical location

Ho Dynasty Citadel is located in Vinh Long commune, Vinh Loc district, Thanh Hoa province, 45km from the city center, and 140km from Hanoi.




Building a stronghold

The Ho Dynasty Citadel began construction in 1397 on a large scale, using green limestone to create solid walls. They were elaborately carved, square, and stacked tightly on top of each other. The stone slabs were on average 1.5 m long, some up to 6 m long, and weighed an estimated 24 tons. The total volume of stone used to build the citadel was about 20,000 m3 and nearly 100,000 m3 of soil was elaborately dug and built.

The stone slabs weighing tons were simply stacked without adhesives to ensure their durability. After more than 600 years with the ups and downs of history and the impact of the weather, the citadel wall system is still quite intact, although the construction time was very urgent, only about 3 months.

Role in history

During its short existence, the Ho Dynasty Citadel served as an important military and political center. However, after only about 20 years, the Ho Dynasty faced the invasion of the Ming Dynasty, marking the end of the dynasty. However, the historical value of the city has been preserved to this day.

World cultural heritage

In 2011, the Ho Dynasty Citadel was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage. This not only recognized the historical and cultural value of the city but also raised its position on the global tourism map. This recognition also created great pressure to preserve and promote the value of the work. Along with that, the Ho Dynasty Citadel was ranked as a national relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, with special national importance in 1962.

II. Ho Dynasty Citadel Architecture

Ho Dynasty Citadel is a masterpiece of architectural art and a precious historical heritage. The citadel is formed from large limestone blocks, covering an area of about 500 hectares, including 5 main gates and 4 secondary gates. The citadel has a rectangular shape, with a wall height of 8m and a thickness of 2m. The citadel gate is made from monolithic limestone, is massive in size, and beautifully decorated. This place has a rather rugged terrain with steep mountains and surrounding rivers, which is strategically significant in military defense and promotes the advantage of waterway traffic.

Inner Citadel

The inner citadel is rectangular, 870.5m long in the North-South direction and 883.5m in the East-West direction. The four gates of the citadel, South-North-West-East, are called front-back-left-right. The gates of the inner citadel are all built in the style of arches, with stacked stones and especially large stone slabs. The Ho Dynasty Citadel has a very high level of stone arch construction techniques. The stone slabs weighing tens of tons were assembled together naturally, without adhesives, and still exist after 600 years.

Ho Dynasty Citadel

The Ho Dynasty Citadel is protected by a large moat system. The moat has an average width of 50m, an average depth of 7m, and a total length of about 4km. The moat was designed to resist enemy invasions. The moat was dug by the people's labor, using soil and stone as the main materials. The moat has an inner surface of 5m wide, a vertical outer surface, and a gentle inner surface. The moat is equipped with a row of wooden stakes, which serves to prevent enemy troops from approaching.

La Thanh

In front of the citadel is the citadel. The citadel is currently a 6m high earthen citadel, 9.2m wide, steep on the outside, and gently sloping on the inside, each step is 1.5m high, and some locations have gravel paved for reinforcement. The entire citadel was built based on the natural terrain, creating a majestic natural wall, with the function of protecting the citadel and preventing floods.

Nam Giao Altar

The Nam Giao Altar of the Ho Dynasty was built in 1402 under the reign of King Ho Han Thuong and is the most intact altar in Vietnam today. This is an ancient architectural work with a history of more than 600 years in Vietnam. The altar was built to serve the sky worship ceremony, an important ceremony in the beliefs of the Vietnamese people. The Nam Giao Altar was built in a high position, facing south, symbolizing the sun. The Nam Giao Altar has a rectangular structure, consisting of three levels and gradually increasing in height. The highest level is where the sky worship table is placed. Today, the Nam Giao Altar is no longer used for sky worship ceremonies but is still an attractive tourist destination. The Nam Giao Altar is a place for people to learn about the history and culture of Vietnam, as well as a place to admire the beauty of ancient Vietnamese architecture.

III. Travel Experience At Ho Dynasty Citadel

The Ho Dynasty Citadel is not only an architectural work but also contains great cultural values. With the increase of tourism, this place is increasingly becoming an attractive destination for both domestic and international tourists.

Ticket price to visit Ho Dynasty Citadel

Ticket price for adults: 40,000 VND/person.

Ticket price for children from 7 - 12 years old: 20,000 VND/person.

For children under 8 years old: Free admission.

Opening hours for visiting Ho Dynasty Citadel

Monday to Friday: 8:00 – 17:00

Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 – 18:00

Tourism activities

When visiting the Ho Dynasty Citadel, visitors not only visit the architectural works but also have the opportunity to learn about the history, culture, and life of the people here. Many tours are organized around the city area, including activities such as exploring relics, participating in traditional festivals, and enjoying local cuisine.

How to get to the Ho Dynasty Citadel

There are many buses from Hanoi to Thanh Hoa every day. Travel time is about 3 hours. Ticket prices range from 100,000 - 200,000 VND/person. After arriving in Thanh Hoa, you can take a bus or taxi to the Ho Dynasty Citadel.

Train: There are trains from Hanoi to Thanh Hoa. Ticket prices range from 200,000 - 300,000 VND/person. Travel time is about 4 hours.

Plane: There are direct flights from Noi Bai Airport to Tho Xuan Airport, Thanh Hoa. Travel time is about 1 hour. Ticket prices range from 500,000 - 1,000,000 VND/person.

Motorbike: If you want to explore Thanh Hoa by yourself, you can ride a motorbike and go to Ho Dynasty Citadel. Travel time is about 3 hours.

Conclude

The Ho Dynasty Citadel is not only a great architectural work but also an important part of the cultural heritage of the Vietnamese people. From its history to its unique architectural features and cultural values, this place has been affirming its position in the hearts of every Vietnamese person as well as international friends. Hopefully, through this article, you will have more useful information and a deeper insight into the Ho Dynasty Citadel, one of the precious gems of Vietnamese culture.