The earliest substantive Việt kingdoms emerged in the Red River Delta region during the latter years of the first millennium BCE.

Nothing now remains of the ancient royal capital of the Hùng kings of Văn Lang near Việt Trì (modern Phú Thọ Province). However, the citadel at Cổ Loa, whence King An Dương transferred his capital after conquering Văn Lang in 258 BCE, is one of the most important historical relics of ancient Việt civilisation. Located some 20 kilometres from present-day Hà Nội, the citadel, with its spiralled walls, was an important work of defence built using sophisticated techniques of engineering.

Cổ Loa would briefly become the national capital once more during the reign of King Ngô Quyền (939-944).

Regrettably very little has survived from this period of Chinese domination. Most major Việt fortresses, palaces and royal tombs built from stone or brick would have been destroyed during the course of countless wars, whilst pagodas, temples and domestic housing constructed from wood or other perishable materials would eventually have succumbed to the tropical climate.

However, several of the ancient royal palace foundations and many of the artefacts uncovered in 2003’s spectacular archaeological find in central Hà Nội have been identified with the 7th-9th century citadel of Đại La (which preceded the medieval Thăng Long Citadel), reinforcing the view that the Việts possessed advanced technological and architectural skills even at this early date.