Thang Long, 1010

palaces with five-toed dragons and coil-tongued phoenixes

era: crossroads 

elements:  sweet mint • sharp lime • cool water • light musk

feel: refreshing, bright, & zesty

intensity: medium

In 1010, King Ly Thai To proclaims Hanoi—then known as Thang Long (“Ascending Dragon”)—a royal capital that will last "ten thousand generations.” Nearly a thousand years later, archaeologists unearth an enormous royal complex where terra cotta sculptures of five-toed dragons and coil-tongued phoenixes—symbols of the king and queen—eye them from the dirt, and cool fresh water dwells in a dozen deep wells. Equally enduring are the powerful roles of bright mint and lime in Vietnamese cuisine. For more on Thang Long's rediscovery, check out the article "A Rich and Royal Ruin in the Heart of Hanoi."