Hotline: +84 985 237 882
- SG$ Singapore Dollar
- A$ Australian Dollar
- £ British Pound Sterling
- C$ Canadian Dollar
- € Euro
- MYR Ringgit Malaysia
- US$ United States Dollar
- đ Vietnamese Dong
Hotline/Whatsapp: +84 86 622 7878
Email: sales@asiamystika.com
About Us
Destinations
Travel Styles
Travel Guide
Blogs
News
Step into Hanoi’s history at the iconic Flag Tower. This 2025 guide helps you discover its story, clear up confusion with the famous “Tower of Hanoi” puzzle, and gives practical tips on tickets, opening hours, and how to make the most of your visit.
If you search for the “Tower of Hanoi” online, you might get a bit confused. One result will show a classic brain-teaser puzzle with stacked disks, while another will reveal a proud, 200-year-old stone tower standing tall in the heart of Vietnam’s capital. Which one is the true symbol of Hanoi?
This guide is all about the real landmark—the Flag Tower of Hanoi (Cột cờ Hà Nội). More than just a structure, it embodies the city’s history, resilience, and national pride. With the crisp, clear days of September 2025 offering perfect weather for a stroll, now is an ideal time to visit. In the following sections, we’ll explore the tower’s fascinating history, clarify the mix-up with the puzzle, and provide all the practical tips you need to experience this iconic Hanoi site firsthand.
Visiting Hanoi, you might stumble upon two very different “Tower of Hanoi” stories—one real, one legendary. Let’s set the record straight.
The Flag Tower of Hanoi (Cột cờ Hà Nội) is a genuine, historic monument dating back to the early 19th century. It was built as part of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, serving both as a watchtower and a proud symbol of Vietnamese sovereignty. Remarkably, this sturdy stone tower survived the widespread destruction during the French colonial period, making it one of the few remaining structures of the original citadel. Today, it stands tall in the heart of Hanoi, its flag waving as a reminder of the city’s enduring spirit.
Now, the “Tower of Hanoi” you may have played in math class or on your phone is a completely different story. Invented in 1883 by the French mathematician Édouard Lucas, this brain-teasing puzzle features stacked disks and a set of moving rules. To give his creation a bit of mystique, Lucas spun a romantic tale about a temple in Hanoi where monks were supposedly moving golden disks to fulfill a prophecy.
The important thing to remember? The puzzle has nothing to do with the real Flag Tower. It’s just a clever 19th-century marketing story that added exotic flair to a mathematical challenge. So when you visit Hanoi, enjoy the tower for its history and national pride, not for the disk-moving legend!
Explain: The Tower of Hanoi is a classic logic puzzle with three pegs and a stack of n disks of different sizes on one peg (largest at the bottom). The goal is to move the entire stack to another peg, moving only one disk at a time and never placing a larger disk on a smaller one. The optimal strategy is recursive: move the top n−1 disks to the spare peg, move the largest disk to the target peg, then move the n−1 disks onto it—repeat the same idea for smaller stacks. This yields a minimum of 2ⁿ − 1 moves. It’s a neat demonstration of recursion, problem decomposition, and invariant rules.
The Flag Tower of Hanoi is more than just a striking structure—it’s a living witness to Vietnam’s rich and turbulent history. Let’s take a closer look at its story.
The tower was constructed between 1805 and 1812 under the Nguyen Dynasty, during a period of grand architectural development in Hanoi. Built as part of the Hanoi Citadel, its main role was that of an observation post. From this vantage point, soldiers could keep watch over the sprawling citadel and the surrounding area, combining military utility with a sense of imperial grandeur.
Over the centuries, Hanoi has seen wars, invasions, and colonization. While most of the citadel fell to destruction under French colonial forces, the Flag Tower stood firm. Its survival makes it one of the few original structures that offer a tangible link to the city’s past—a stone sentinel that has witnessed the rise and fall of empires.
Beyond its historical role, the tower carries profound modern significance. On October 10, 1954, following the liberation of Hanoi, the red and gold Vietnam flag was raised atop the tower for the first time, signaling the city’s freedom. Since then, it has become a potent symbol of national pride and independence, a reminder of Vietnam’s resilience and the enduring spirit of its people.
If you’re planning to see the Flag Tower of Hanoi, it helps to know exactly what to expect. Here’s everything you need for a smooth and enjoyable visit.
The historic Flag Tower stands proudly on the grounds of the Vietnam Military History Museum, located at 28A Dien Bien Phu Street, Ba Dinh District. It’s easy to reach from the city center, and being part of the museum complex means you can explore both military history and the iconic tower in one visit.
Time of Year: For the most comfortable experience, plan your visit during autumn (September to November) or spring (March to April). During these months, Hanoi enjoys mild temperatures, clear skies, and pleasant breezes—perfect for walking around and taking photos.
Time of Day: The morning or late afternoon is ideal. You’ll avoid the strongest midday sun, enjoy softer lighting for pictures, and experience the tower in a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere.
Hours: The Military History Museum, which provides access to the tower, usually opens from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with a short lunch break. Note that it’s typically closed on Mondays and Fridays, so plan accordingly.
Ticket Price: There’s no separate ticket for the Flag Tower itself. Your entrance ticket to the museum, which costs around 40,000 VND as of late 2025, gives you access to the tower grounds. Once there, you can even climb the stairs inside the tower for a fantastic view of the surrounding area—a small effort for a big reward!
Visiting the Flag Tower is simple, yet incredibly rewarding. With the right timing and a bit of planning, you’ll enjoy a full experience of one of Hanoi’s most enduring symbols.
Visiting the Flag Tower isn’t just about seeing an old building—it’s about stepping into a story of survival, pride, and history that continues to inspire Hanoi today.
Visiting the Flag Tower of Hanoi can raise a few questions, so we’ve put together the answers you need to make your trip smooth and enjoyable.
The tower was constructed in the early 1800s as an observation post for the Hanoi Citadel. Remarkably, it survived French colonial demolition while much of the citadel was destroyed. Today, it stands as a powerful symbol of Vietnam’s resilience and pride, especially since the national flag was first raised there on October 10, 1954, marking the liberation of Hanoi.
No, the two are not connected. The puzzle, invented by French mathematician Édouard Lucas in 1883, features a fictional story about Hanoi to make the game more intriguing—but it has no historical link to the real tower.
The red flag flying from the tower is the national flag of Vietnam. The red background symbolizes revolution and sacrifice, while the gold five-pointed star represents the unity of workers, peasants, soldiers, intellectuals, and youths.
You’ll find it inside the Vietnam Military History Museum grounds, at 28A Dien Bien Phu Street, Ba Dinh District, right in the heart of Hanoi.
There’s no separate ticket for the tower. Your museum entry, priced at around 40,000 VND, gives you access to the tower grounds. Climbing the internal stairs rewards you with a great view over the surrounding area.
This is a common source of confusion. Ho Chi Minh City has modern skyscrapers like the Bitexco Financial Tower, but the Flag Tower is a historic landmark unique to Hanoi.
No, there’s no dining inside the tower itself. But the area around the museum has plenty of cafés and restaurants where you can relax after your visit.
While the Flag Tower of Hanoi may not have anything to do with the famous puzzle, it tells a story far more meaningful—one of endurance, resilience, and national pride. For over two centuries, it has stood tall over Hanoi, witnessing some of the city’s most significant historical moments and surviving the test of time.
For anyone visiting the capital, a stop at this iconic landmark is a must. Take the time to climb the steps, soak in the history embedded in its stone walls, and admire the Vietnamese flag waving proudly above the city. Experiencing the tower in person is more than sightseeing—it’s a chance to connect with the heart and spirit of Hanoi.
Contact us for a personalized travel itinerary according to your preferences:
WhatsApp: (+84) 866.22.7878
Planning trip: Click here
Email: sales@asiamystika.com
Website: www.asiamystika.com
Asia Mystika Profile: Click Here
