King Ly Thai To Statue is located in Ly Thai To Garden, Dinh Tien Hoang Street, by the Hoan Kiem lake in Hanoi Old Quarter. This is a cultural and architectural work which aims to honor King Ly Thai To (974 – 1028). He is the first king who found Capital Citadel of Thang Long (Hanoi today).
In February, 2003, the Hanoi Department of Culture and Information launched a contest to design the statue of King Ly Thai To. The design of sculptor Vi Thi Hoa (Vietnam Fine Arts Association) was selected from 29 other designs. The statue of King Ly Thai To was cast on August 17, 2004 and inaugurated on October 7, 2004.
This is the biggest pure bronze statue in Vietnam with weight of 34 tons (the statue of 12 tons and its stage of 20 tons), height of 10.10m (6.8m-high statue, 3.3m-high stage). The number 1010 corresponds with foundation year of the Capital Citadel of Thang Long.
Situated in an octagonal platform (represents eight directions), the statue portrays King Ly Thai To whose right hand holds Chieu doi do (Decree on the capital’s relocation) and left hand is pointed at the location to found the capital.
The statute is the cultural work to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hanoi’s liberation day (10/10/1954 – 10/10/2004) and lead-up to the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi (1010- 2010).
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