Son Tay Citadel in Hanoi

Located in Son Tay Town, 42 km from central Hanoi, the citadel was built in 1822 in a square shape. The wall of citadel was constructed of laterite, an extremely strong type of stone. It has four gates, the east (Đông), the West (Tây), the front (Tiền), the back (Hậu) gates, where watch guard used to stand.

urrounding the 2000 m perimeter of the citadel is a moat, which is 3m deep and 20m wide. Inside, there are four cannons standing by the four corners. There is also the th Kinh Thien Hall (a place for the king to relax during his inspection days in the locally), th villas and court hall of the provincial mandarins, and the food stocks and camps for soldiers.

Time and war have destroyed many areas inside the ancient citadel. Nowadays, only some sections of the citadel walls, some gates and some other architechural works remain. The whole historical site is now being preserved and restored.