Dating back to 208 BC, Co Loa Citadel rose as the heart of the ancient Au Lac kingdom under the legendary King An Duong Vuong. Legend tells of a mighty crossbow and protective magic, yet even these could not save the kingdom from betrayal and ruin, a story of power, ambition and ghosts that still linger over the northern plains.

Constructed on the remains of a 7th century Chinese fortress, the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel was built on strategic reclaimed river lands on the lower Red River Delta and for nearly 13 centuries, remained the regional powerhouse of Northern Vietnamese political & military domination. Shortly after his ascension to the throne, Emperor Lý Thái Tổ declared a royal decree in the year 1010, to move the capital from Hoa Lư and establish a new Imperial City for the Lý Dynasty.