The Hanoi Flag Tower (also known as Ky Dai), formerly part of the Vietnam Military History Museum, was handed over from the Ministry of National Defense to the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center on December 25. The tower is considered to be one of the symbols of the capital. The opening to the public will provide an opportunity for visitors to learn more about this special historical relic.

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The Hanoi Flag Tower (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Built at the same time as the Hanoi Citadel during the Nguyen Dynasty (The construction began in 1805 and was completed in 1812), the Hanoi Flag Tower was used as a watchtower for both the inner and outer city areas. This was the reason why the French colonialists did not demolish the structure between 1894 and 1897.

During the resistance war against the U.S. imperialists, the tower was used by the Hanoi Air Defense Force for a similar purpose. In 1945, after the success of the August Revolution, the national flag was first raised at the top of the tower. In 1954, following the victory in the resistance war against the French colonialists, the national flag once again flew there.

The flag tower comprises a basement, a body, and a place for lookouts on top. The basement has three tiers. Recognized as the national historical and cultural relic on January 20, 1989 by the Ministry of Culture and Information, the tower is one of the must-visit attractions for both domestic and international tourists.

Translated by Tran Hoai