Hanoi Flag Tower
Hanoi Flag Tower
4
About
This place was built between 1805 and 1812 under King Gia Long and is over 2 centuries old. It resembles an old stone fortress and has steps leading to the top where one can get a good view of the city. There are old cannon sitting at the base of the place at grand level.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
513 reviews
Excellent
108
Very good
211
Average
167
Poor
24
Terrible
3
Craig R
Yarrawonga, Australia2,026 contributions
Mar 2023
Located in the grounds of the Vietnam Military History Museum, an impressive looking structure built between 1805 and 1812, and stands about 40 metres high. You can walk up to the base of the tower. Around the base of the structure there are old artillery cannons with plates describing the history of each one. Well worth a look.
Written April 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tu-Anh P
Kailua-Kona, HI328 contributions
Jan 2024 • Solo
The Flag Tower (Cột cờ Hà Nội) is one of the symbols of Hanoi.
It is located in the Vietnam Military History Museum.
The tower was built in the early 1800s during the Nguyen dynasty as an observation post to the Hanoi Citadel.
It is located in the Vietnam Military History Museum.
The tower was built in the early 1800s during the Nguyen dynasty as an observation post to the Hanoi Citadel.
Written January 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia19,452 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
The Citadel where's the tower with a big Vietnamese flag dates back to early 19 century when it was built by Nguyen dynasty.
It's an attractive site, however not much to do there. On the day of our visit, the tower was closed for climbing up, but we could climb the second Citadel platform for free. Next door is the History Museum (paying, read that review).
It's an attractive site, however not much to do there. On the day of our visit, the tower was closed for climbing up, but we could climb the second Citadel platform for free. Next door is the History Museum (paying, read that review).
Written February 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DesktopDaydreamer
London10 contributions
An attractive part of town, and in the immediate area there are three attractions worth a visit: Lenin Square, the Flag Tower and the Military History Museum.
Lenin Sq has a big statue of the eponymous commie but it is more the locals having a good time there that make it worth seeing. Badminton, kiddy cars, skaters, football players etc all crammed onto a tiny patch.
The Military Museum was closed when we got there but we were still able to wander the grounds, which I imagine contain the biggest attraction - an impressive collection of captured US and French military hardware. Choppers (the flying ones, not Harleys), tanks, jeeps, jets, Howitzers and more were all there to be viewed, photographed and climbed upon. I had a look in the cockpit of a US fighter plane - fascinating. Any uninterested spouses can be left in the attractive Parisien style street cafe next door.
The Flag Tower is old and interesting and has a good view of the yard where the vehicles are kept. Maybe in the day you can climb all the way up, but not when we went.
Lenin Sq has a big statue of the eponymous commie but it is more the locals having a good time there that make it worth seeing. Badminton, kiddy cars, skaters, football players etc all crammed onto a tiny patch.
The Military Museum was closed when we got there but we were still able to wander the grounds, which I imagine contain the biggest attraction - an impressive collection of captured US and French military hardware. Choppers (the flying ones, not Harleys), tanks, jeeps, jets, Howitzers and more were all there to be viewed, photographed and climbed upon. I had a look in the cockpit of a US fighter plane - fascinating. Any uninterested spouses can be left in the attractive Parisien style street cafe next door.
The Flag Tower is old and interesting and has a good view of the yard where the vehicles are kept. Maybe in the day you can climb all the way up, but not when we went.
Written March 19, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
born2travelit
Cesena, Italy17,170 contributions
Feb 2012 • Couples
i m always impressed in front of a weaving flag. this is majestic and dominates a huge tower on the way to the citadel of ho chi minh. worthwhile visiting it
Written February 15, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SimplyTourist
San Francisco, CA46 contributions
Aug 2012 • Couples
Hanoi Flag Tower is a historical landmark, which has survived over 200 years, and the last war. Unfortunately, the landmark has gradually decayed because of poor management, and services. The ground is littered, the bath rooms (aka. W.C.) are smelly and dirty. Compare this landmark to other landmarks around Hanoi, the Tower could be better with better management, and maintenance services.
Written August 24, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rincewind
Anshan, China162 contributions
Feb 2020
When visiting the Military Museum, you can also go part the way up this tower and get a view of the surrounding city and an areal view of the museum's exhibits. Doesn't cost anything.
Written February 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark
21 contributions
Nov 2019
While the tower itself is impressive, its best feature is the view it provides of the Vietnamese Army Museum outside of which sit immense piles of American military detritus sometimes called "The Garden of Broken Toys." Jets, helicopters, bombers, fighters, tanks, artillery pieces and ordnance of all type can be seen from the tower--an expanse of captured and destroyed materials from the American War. The tower's stairs are a bit steep and maybe not accessibly for elderly or physically disabled travelers--and are definitely slippery when it rains. At its base are cannons from ancient (firing marble balls) to modern. If you're visiting the Army museum--and you better, it is by my estimation one of the best museums in the country if you're interested in military history--the tower is right next to it, it's free and it almost always catches a little bit of a breeze. A massive Vietnamese flag flutters from the top giving the tower its name and making it a nice photo op. I've been there twice and it was almost always empty in a city where everything is often quite busy. A great stop--especially for the view it provides. Go now!
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelingjohn123
Peterlee, UK3,107 contributions
Jun 2019
Interesting attraction, now part of the war museum. You get to view it as part of the entrance to the museum or you can cut through the coffee shop and avoid the 40 dong fee. Good views of the planes in the museum.
Written June 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
susiestevo
Liverpool, UK63 contributions
Aug 2017
Stumbled on this museum while having a coffee next door, great place to spend a few hours looking at the history and left over war vehicles.
Written February 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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