Things to Do
Hanoi Flag Tower
One of the few structures in the old Hanoi Citadel to survive French colonial demolition intact, the Flag Tower is a quick but genuinely worthwhile stop — and one of the city's most recognisable symbols.
A survivor of the citadel
Built in 1812 under the Nguyen Dynasty as a military watchtower for the old Hanoi Citadel, the Flag Tower is one of very few citadel structures the French colonial administration chose to preserve rather than demolish when it redeveloped the area in the early 20th century — reportedly because of its usefulness as a lookout and signal point. That accident of preservation is why it still stands today, largely unchanged.
What you'll see
The tower rises in three tapering stone platforms topped by a hexagonal tower and flagpole, with narrow internal staircases connecting the levels — worth the short climb for the view over the surrounding military museum grounds. A large Vietnamese flag flies from the top, visible from a distance across this part of the city.
Where it sits
The tower stands within the grounds of the Vietnam Military History Museum, a short distance from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex — easy to combine into the same half-day if you're already covering Ba Dinh Square's sights.