Thang Long Capital Planning Through Historical Periods (10th - 18th Centuries): An Archaeological Perspective

PHẠM Văn Triệu

Thăng Long-the capital officially established by King Lý Thái Tổ in 1010-is one of the ancient urban areas with the most prolonged and continuous planning histories in Southeast Asia. Evidence was obtained through the synthesis and analysis of archaeological data systems collected across multiple excavations, particularly at the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel and adjacent sites, aiming to reconstruct the process of formation, consolidation, and spatial transformation of the capital through dynasties from the Ly era to the late 18th century. During the early years of the Ly Dynasty, the structure of the capital Thang Long, with its three concentric walls, was completed, in which the Forbidden City (Palace City) and the Imperial City had a concentric structure-meaning the Forbidden City was at the centre of the Imperial City-while the Outer City (Dai La City) was built based on the topography and flow of the Red River and the To Lich River.  In subsequent stages, the Tran (1225-1400), Early Le (1428-1527), and Restored Le (1533-1789) dynasties did not dismantle but continued to inherit the fundamental planning framework of the Ly era, while making adjustments to expand the scale, reconstruct, or reinforce according to specific political contexts and defensive needs. Particularly, during the Early Le dynasty, the Imperial City was significantly renovated and expanded after the victory over the Ming army in 1427, moving into the 17th-18th centuries, the urban structure of Thang Long continued to transform with the strong development of residential and commercial areas outside the city walls.