Kinh Thien Palace: A must-visit historical relic in Hanoi

Contents

Kinh Thien Palace is part of Thang Long Imperial Citadel (Source: Collected)

1. Where is Kinh Thien Palace? How to get there?

Kinh Thien Palace is inside the relic site of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, which is situated at 19C Hoang Dieu Street, Ba Dinh Ward, Hanoi. To get to the relic site, tourists can take a bus ride, catch a taxi, or rent a motorbike. In case you depart from Hoan Kiem Lake, go down Trang Thi Street – Dien Bien Phu Street – Hoang Dieu Street. If you want to take the bus, hop on bus number 22, which has a stop on Hoang Dieu Street.

Kinh Thien Palace stands as the central landmark of the imperial citadel. It is surrounded by many other attractions, including Doan Mon Gate, Hanoi Flag Tower, etc. 

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2. The long-established history of Kinh Thien Palace

The area around Kinh Thien Palace was originally Can Nguyen – Thien An Palace during the Ly and Tran dynasties. Kinh Thien Palace was constructed in 1428 during the reign of King Le Thai To and completed under King Le Thanh Tong. 

During the French colonial period, the palace was demolished in the late 19th century and replaced by the headquarters of the French artillery command. This building was called the Dragon House as it featured dragon figures at the front and back.

After 1954, when the Vietnamese army took over Hanoi, this area became the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense. In 2004, the Ministry of Defense handed over a portion of the central area of the imperial citadel to the Hanoi People’s Committee for management.

The Kinh Thien Palace history spans 600 years (Source: Collected)

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3. The architectural highlights of Kinh Thien Palace

3.1. Nhị-shaped roofs

Originally built of wood, Kinh Thien Palace was modeled after the character “Nhị” (二). It had a two-tier roof with eight curved dormers. The roof’s ridge of both tiers was adorned with a pair of dragon figures facing the sun. Surrounding the palace was a spacious courtyard enclosed by a stone balustrade on all four sides.

3.2. Stone staircases and dragons

Today, only the foundation of Kinh Thien Palace remains. It is a platform measuring 57 meters in length, 41.5 meters in width, and 2.3 meters in height. There is a balustrade on the southern side. The front features a stone staircase with ten steps and four stone dragon figures. These dragons have prominent heads, large eyes, branched horns, and flowing manes, with graceful curves towards the platform. The northern side of the platform features a smaller staircase with seven steps, flanked by two dragon figures. These dragons are adorned with lotus flower, wave, sword, flame, and cloud motifs.

4. Other places to explore on your visit to Kinh Thien Palace

4.1. Other relics in the site

After exploring Kinh Thien Palace, take the opportunity to see other fascinating relics within the Thang Long Imperial Citadel complex, including 18 Hoang Dieu Archaeological Site, Bac Mon (Northern Gate), Doan Mon Gate, Hau Lau (Lady’s Pavilion), Revolutionary House D67, Hanoi Flag Tower, etc.

Hanoi Flag Tower – a symbol of the capital city of Vietnam (Source: Collected)

4.2. Attractions near the complex

After exploring Thang Long Imperial Citadel, visitors can continue their cultural journey by visiting several renowned attractions nearby:

• Fine Arts Museum: 1 kilometer away
• Temple of Literature: 1.6 kilometers away
• Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: 1.8 kilometers away
• Hanoi Old Quarter: 2.3 kilometers away
• Bach Ma Temple: 2.6 kilometers away

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Kinh Thien Palace is a must-visit for anybody interested in Hanoi’s rich culture. Its architectural magnificence and historical significance provide an intriguing look into Vietnam’s past. 

After touring the palace and Thang Long Imperial Citadel, you can continue your journey to see more of Hanoi. For entertainment, head to Ocean City, a new urban area situated to the east of Hanoi. Just a 30-minute drive away from the city center, Ocean City has an abundance of attractions. At VinWonders Wave Park & Water Park, you can beat the heat with all sorts of exhilarating water games. Meanwhile, the entertainment complex of Grand World offers an all-in-one excursion with enriching cultural shows, tranquil boat rides, colorful festivals, and mouth-watering food.

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