Spatial Structure and Urban Planning of Đồ Bàn Citadel (Champa): Perspectives from Archaeology and Regional Capital Models

ĐỖ Trường Giang

In the history of ancient Southeast Asian urbanism from the 11th to the 15th centuries, the emergence of centralized great capitals was a prominent trend. Concurrently with the development of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel (Dai Viet) in the North and Angkor Thom (Khmer) in the West, the shift of the Champa kingdom's center of power to Vijaya (Binh Dinh province) marked a fundamental turning point in urban planning. Unlike early cities (e.g., Simhapura) that adapted to natural topography, the Vijaya citadel demonstrated an "imposed planning" mindset, deeply influenced by Hindu-Buddhist cosmology. By integrating archaeological excavation data from 2004 to the present and comparing it with the predecessor Thanh Cha and the Angkor Thom model, this study aims to decode the original spatial structure of Vijaya. The research findings demonstrate that the citadel was planned according to a concentric Mandala model, with the Canh Tien tower serving as the Axis Mundi. Notably, based on Vāstu Śāstra principles and material evidence, the paper confirms that the Royal Palace (Rāja-Veśma) was positioned in the northwest corner of the inner citadel. Decoding the spatial layout of Vijaya not only contributes new insights into Champa royal architecture but also provides a crucial reference framework for comparison with contemporary capital models such as the Thang Long Imperial Citadel.