Originally constructed in 1805 and completed in 1812, the flag tower was meant to be an observation post protecting the Citadel located behind it, during the Nguyen dynasty.

​An interesting fact is that the Vietnamese flag first flew on top of the tower in 1945!
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Consisting of three tiers, this tower provides an unique experience to visitors. For those afraid of heights, you can first remain on the first two tiers to gather some confidence, before attempting to reach the highest tier. It does provide a pleasing view of downtown Hanoi! ​

The steps to each tier can be quite steep, giving you a glimpse of how it was like in the 1800s, as soldiers ran up and down attempting to defend their Citadel. A word of advice, would be to take it easy, and walk up the steps slowly. Thankfully, there are now handles by the side for you to hold on to. This decreases the risk of falling down by that much! The ceiling up the stairs are also quite low. Hence, watch your head! 

INSIDER TIP:
Located within the compound of Vietnam Military History Museum itself, you can visit this magnificent tower
​before or after your visit to the museum, making it altogether a worthwhile visit!
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