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Since its launch, the "Decoding Thang Long Imperial Citadel" tour has received much attention and appreciation from both domestic and international tourists. The Thang Long Imperial Citadel fanpage consistently announces that tickets are sold out, so visitors wishing to participate in the night tour need to book in advance.
Speaking to Travellive, the organizers of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel tour said: "In recent years, young people have shown great interest in the history of nation-building and defense. The communication and promotion efforts of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel tour are not limited to traditional channels like television and newspapers, but have expanded to Facebook, TikTok, etc., to reach young people more closely. The unique feature of the night tour lies in combining historical heritage exploration with entertainment activities. Afterwards, it introduces tourists to historical milestones and stories associated with the heritage in a more accessible and visual way."
Discover the history of feudal Vietnam through the "Decoding Thang Long Imperial Citadel" night tour.
Thang Long Imperial Citadel is a UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage site. The "Decoding Thang Long Imperial Citadel" program was created to introduce and highlight the unique and valuable relics and artifacts within the complex. With a 1.5-hour experiential journey, the "Decoding Thang Long Imperial Citadel" tour allows visitors to explore a period of Vietnamese feudal history from the 7th to the 19th centuries, spanning the Dai La, Ly, Tran, Mac, Nguyen, and Le dynasties.
On a night tour, visitors not only get to admire the historical, palace-like atmosphere under the shimmering, magical lights, but also discover many exciting and fascinating experiences here.
Most visitors to Thang Long Imperial Citadel are drawn to it during the day. However, its magical nighttime scenery is less explored. Therefore, since its introduction, night tours have sparked considerable curiosity among tourists, especially young people aged 10 to 20.
At the start of the tour, visitors will be given a "decode" sheet of information about Thang Long Imperial Citadel by the tour guide, to take with them throughout the night tour.
The "decode" voucher for Thang Long Imperial Citadel that tourists carry with them throughout the night tour.
The 90-minute night tour begins at Doan Mon Gate – the entrance to the Forbidden City, the former residence and workplace of the king.
The performance reenacts the King's Royal Court Ceremony.
From 7 PM every Friday and Saturday, the night tour officially departs. The program starts from the Đoan Môn Gate – the entrance to the Forbidden City, which was the residence and workplace of the king in ancient times. Here, visitors will have the privilege of walking along the central path, a path previously reserved only for the king. According to the tour organizers, visitors are very excited about this experience.
Upon entering the Đoan Môn gate, visitors can continue their journey to witness actors reenacting historical milestones of the country through a spectacular performance combining sound and light.
The gallery displays ancient artifacts dating back thousands of years.
Next, the tour will take visitors to the exhibition hall themed "Thang Long - Hanoi, a Thousand Years of History from the Earth." Visitors will have the opportunity to see firsthand the artifacts that have been excavated, archaeologically discovered, and displayed in a highly organized manner according to their chronological order. The tour guide will provide detailed explanations of each artifact and recount the stories of 1,300 years of history.
The ceremony of offering incense to commemorate the 52 former emperors at the Kính Thiên Palace evokes many emotions in visitors.
Leaving the Thang Long Imperial Citadel exhibition hall, visitors will then have the opportunity to personally offer incense, expressing gratitude to the emperors who contributed to the construction of Thang Long Imperial City. The incense offering ceremony is held in front of the Kinh Thien Palace, where important court rituals were once performed. This emotionally charged experience aims to show gratitude to our ancestors.
King's Well - a sacred symbol of Thang Long Imperial Citadel
Each visitor will receive a bottle of water, and then personally collect water from the King's Well, a symbol of sacredness and blessings.
Continuing the program, visitors will proceed to the archaeological site. Located right behind the Parliament building, this vast site features numerous ancient wells dating back to different periods. It was constructed from bricks that have survived for over 1,300 years. Notably, each visitor will receive a bottle of water and then personally collect water from the King's Well, a symbol of sacredness and blessings.
Representative artifacts of the Imperial Citadel are projected using lasers onto archaeological foundations or onto the ancient river, allowing visitors to learn and decipher them.
As we reach the final leg of the journey, using laser projection technology on the archaeological sites, the organizers will reveal a little bit of the answer to tonight's tour. However, discovering the answer will require the attention and observation of visitors throughout the journey. Finding the answer will surprise everyone and provide a deeper understanding of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel.
At the end of the "Decoding Thang Long Imperial Citadel" night tour, visitors with correct answers will receive exciting gifts from the organizers. Finally, everyone will sit together, enjoy a cup of tea, and savor lotus jam to conclude their trip.
Enjoy tea and lotus jam at the end of the journey.
Beyond offering a truly immersive experience throughout the journey, the "Decoding Thang Long Imperial Citadel" night tour also provides visitors with unique insights into Vietnam's feudal history.
The allure of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel night tour
The organizers of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel tour stated: "Regarding the number of tour participants, most tickets are always sold out, and we limit the number to no more than 120 people to avoid overcrowding, disorder, or chaos throughout the event. However, the program is always subject to weather conditions, especially for some outdoor activities."
Many young people are curious and fascinated by ancient artifacts.
The tour fee is 300,000 VND per person. At certain special times, the organizers will offer a discount, reducing the price to 200,000 VND per person (children under 5 years old are free, children aged 5-11 will be charged 50% of the adult price).
Additionally, at the start of the night tour, the organizers also set some regulations for tourists. Dress code is polite; short skirts, shorts, and off-the-shoulder tops are prohibited. Appropriate footwear is recommended as there will be a lot of walking. Furthermore, tourists must turn off their phone ringtones, not turn on lights, smoke, or make noise throughout the tour.
According to the Thang Long Imperial Citadel Organizing Committee, in recent years, young people have shown particular interest in the history of nation-building and national defense.
"This year, Thang Long Imperial Citadel will intensify the promotion of night tours on Facebook and TikTok to reach more young people and may officially organize night tours for foreign tourists in March," the organizers added.
