‘HOUSE’ OF THE DRAGONS The Ascending and Descending Dragons of Northern Vietnam

Those who wish to immerse deeper into the colorful local scene, the Mekong Delta region, a Biosphere Reserve since 1957, is neither complicated to navigate nor snobbish. The city also surprisingly gifted me with who became one of my closest and most dependable friends: Conan from Ireland, who has, since then, found home in the Philippines as an amazing scuba diving instructor.

I made my second visit in 2017 with the aim to visit all its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a plan that practically had me traverse the country from north all the way to the south in a span of three weeks. No matter how I am excited to share how that memorable trip went, I certainly do not have the luxury of space to write it all down here. So, we begin and make do with where this story began, at the very heart of the capital of Vietnam.

The Ascending Dragon:

The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

H A NOI i s a charming city with clear French influences as can be seen from the colonial period buildings to the vibrant café culture all around. It is, in fact, considered as one of the oldest continually serving centers of regional political power in the world. The present-day capital sits on a predecessor, Thang Long (meaning Ascending Dragon) that dates to the early 11th century. In the Old Quarter lies the most important standing components of Thang Long, the central sector of its citadel.

Easily reached on foot from anywhere in the Old Quarter or even the French Quarter, the citadel cannot be missed as it is marked by the monumental 60-meter-high brick Flag Tower, an iconic symbol of the city itself. The flag tower, once used as an observation and military outpost, can now be explored as part of the Vietnam Military History Museum compound. A few meters away is the entrance to the main citadel.

The first building that greets visitors is the yellow southern gate, the Đoan Môn. This stone gate served as the principal entrance to Thang Long’s Forbidden City and is perhaps the most impressive structure in the entire complex. What remains of the