Expected to operate from October, 2010, each stage of the tour will be opportunity to reminisce about ancestor’s great efforts in building and protecting country, strengthen national pride for following generation and introduce Vietnam’s powerful history to international friends.

The first destination of the tour is Hung Temple in Nghia Linh Mountain, Viet Tri City. This location was the center of Van Lang, the first state of Viet Nam. Being the place to worship Kings Hung (the kings ruled Van Lang State), Hung Temple includes Ha Temple, Thien Quang Pagoda, Trung and Thuong temples, tomb of the 6th King Hung, Gieng Temple, Au Co Temple, Lac Long Quan Temple, and Hung Vuong Museum with over 800 objects and images which generalize about process of founding the Van Lang State of Kings Hung.

Hung Temple Festival is the ancestors' death anniversary of the whole nation (the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month). It not only attracts visitors from all over the country because of its special traditional cultural activities, but it is also a sacred trip back in time to the origins of the Vietnamese nation.

Leaving Phu Tho for Ha Noi, tourists will visit the capital of Viet Nam under the dynasties of Ly, Tran, Le (from the 11th to the 18th centuries). Though the majestic Imperial Citadel of Thang Long has no longer existed, however relics and artefacts excavated from the site have somehow helped revive the former appearance of Thang Long such as Doan Mon, Bac Mon, stone dragons in Kinh Thien Palace, dragon house, Hau Lau, Flag Tower of Hanoi and archaeological site at 18 Hoang Dieu. Especially the archaeological site at 18 Hoang Dieu where is about 87m from Kinh Thien Palace houses vestiges of palaces of the Ly, Tran and Le dynasties. The lowest layer of the site was found a part of the eastern area of Dai La Citadel under Cao Bien’s reign of the Tang Dynasty. The higher layers were reserved for palaces of the Ly and Tran dynasties and a part of the center of the eastern palace of the Le Dynasty. The top layer revealed a part of the centre of Hanoi Citadel in the 19th century. Here, archaeologists dug out many important architectural vestiges and a great deal of porcelain and ceramic wares used in the imperial citadel through various stages of development. The findings paved the way for researchers to study ceramics made in Thang Long in general and ceramic wares used in Imperial Citadel of Thang Long through different dynasties.

UNESCO recognized Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Hanoi as world cultural heritage site at the 34th session of World Heritage Committee in Brazil on July 31, 2010.

About 100km south of Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital constitutes a complex of historical and culture relics relating to the three dynasties in feudal history of Viet Nam, namely the Dinh, Early Le and Ly (the 10th and 11th centuries). Over 1,000 years, the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital has changed very much. To date, there remain traces of portions of walls of these ancient citadels in the area, including relics concerning to dynasties as the temples dedicated to King Dinh and King Le and several temples, pagodas and other relics.

Temple of King Dinh built in the 17th century on the site of the ancient royal palace worships King Dinh Tien Hoang and the king’s sons: Dinh Lien, Dinh Phung Lan and Dinh Toan. Temple of King Le, about 500m from the temple of King Dinh, worships King Le Dai Hanh, Queen Duong Van Nga and King Le Ngoa Trieu, the fifth son of King Le Dai Hanh. The temple is famous for masterpieces of wood carvings in the 17th century. Experts found here relics of the foundation of the royal palace along with ancient porcelain and ceramic wares. These antiques are preserved in a museum located to the left of the temple.

Keeping on the journey, the tourists will reach Ho Citadel in Thanh Hoa Province. According to the history, in 1397 Ho Quy Ly had the Ho Citadel built during 3 months to establish a new dynasty for him and avoid enemy’s invasion. The citadel wall was built by soil and covered with karstic stone. These cube stones have average length of 1.5m, weight of 15-20 tonnes. They were carefully shaped and skillfully linked to the each other. Citadel construction in conditions at that time is still being a secret for researchers and historians.

Over 600 years, Ho Citadel remains many specific objects and relics such as outer rampart, citadel wall and 4 gates, dyke around inner citadel, vestige of palaces in inner citadel, Nam Giao alter in Don Son Mountain… Management board of Ho Citadel opened a showroom in southern gate of the citadel to display hundreds of objects found in this ancient citadel, among them there are tens of stone marbles which is said to be means to transport stone for citadel construction.

The document of Ho Citadel was submitted to UNESCO to recognize it as world cultural heritage site.

Beside Ho Citadel, Thanh Hoa also has Lam Kinh Relic which is well known for its association with Le Loi - one of Vietnam’s greatest heroes - who was honored for leading the people to expel the Chinese Ming invaders from the country and establishing the Later Le Dynasty. After Le Loi set up the capital city in Thang Long and announced to take the name “Thuan Thien” for the time period under his reign, he then ordered the construction of the second citadel – Lam Kinh or Tay Kinh in his native land in Lam Son. Lam Kinh Citadel today houses some relics such as: gate of imperial citadel; vestiges of Ngo Mon, dragon court, royal sanctum and Thai Mieu. In addition, Lam Kinh Relic includes the temple dedicated to King Le Loi and complex of tombs of Kings Le: King Le Thai To, King Le Thai Tong, King Le Thanh Tong, King Le Hien Tong, King Le Tuc Tong and Queen Mother Ngo Thi Ngoc Giao. The Lam Kinh Festival is held on the 20th, 21st and 22nd days of the 8th lunar month annually to honour Le Loi and other generals serving the Le Dynasty. The festival is comprised of rituals, cultural activities, artistic performances, flower arrangement, and performances of pieces of ancient stories.

Another Vietnam’s hero - King Quang Trung Nguyen Hue - had a citadel built in his native land of Nghe An in 1788, namely Phuong Hoang Trung Do. The citadel had been built for 4 years, Quang Trung suddenly passed away. However Phuong Hoang Trung Do is considered to be a capital of Viet Nam because King Quang Trung held imperial audiences here in 1789, 1791, 1792. Through time and war, Phuong Hoang Trung Do today is ruins. The temple dedicated to King Quang Trung was built in the foundation of former Phuong Hoang Citadel to commemorate and memorize King Quang Trung’s effort. The temple is made of iron wood and its patterns are carved according to style of Nguyen Dynasty. This is the cultural work attracting a lot of domestic and international tourists.

Unlike Phuong Hoang Trung Do, Hue Imperial City - the capital city of the Southern Kingdom by all Lords Nguyen – preserves almost architectural works inside. With an area of 500ha, Hue Imperial City has three circles of ramparts, namely from outside to inside: Capital Citadel, Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Citadel. The Capital Citadel built in 1805 and completed in 1832 has 10 entrances. Over 200 years to now, it is still original with nearly 140 small and large constructions. The Imperial Citadel has highest offices of Vietnam's feudalism and sanctums honouring the cult of decreased emperors including more 100 beautiful constructional works. Access to the Imperial City can be made by 4 entrances. The Forbidden Citadel is reserved for emperor and his family. It is about 1,230m in circumference and includes 50 architectural constructions of different sizes and 7 gates for facilities of entrance and exit. In addition, Hue has 7 tombs of Kings Nguyen and intangible cultural values such as Hue Festival and court music. UNESCO recognized Hue Imperial City as world cultural heritage site in 1993 and court music as masterpieces of oral and intangible heritage of humanity in 2003.

The last destination of the journey is Hoang De Citadel in Binh Dinh Province. The citadel was built at the end of the 10th century, during the reign of Emperor Yangpuku Vijaaya. In 1775, the citadel was rebuilt and expanded 15 miles to the east by Tay Son Dynasty. Hoang De Citadel is not large but has specific beauty and style of Champa architecture with 3 circles of ramparts: Inner Citadel, Outer Citadel and Forbidden Citadel. Inside Hoang De Citadel, there are remains including Bat Giac House, Gia Son, semicircle swimming-pool, laterite ancient well, some statues of lions and elephants and especially Canh Tien Tower in Champa Dynasty. Hoang De Citadel is considered to be a unique heritage in Viet Nam because it was capital of both kingdoms of Champa and Dai Viet. The journey through Vietnamese ancient capitals will create the association and co-operation among provinces and cities to make a specific tourism product for sustainable tourism development.

Thuy Hang