The Ho Dynasty Citadel in central Thanh Hoa province received a
UNESCO certificate of World Cultural Heritage status at a grand ceremony
on June 16.
The citadel was recognised as a World Cultural Heritage site on June 27 last year.
UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for External Relations and Public
Information Eric Falt presented the certificate to representatives of
the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO and Thanh Hoa province
authorities, in the presence of National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh
Hung and senior Party and State officials of Vietnam as well as
representatives from the diplomatic corps and foreign organisations.
Addressing the ceremony, National Assembly Chairman
Nguyen Sinh Hung congratulated Thanh Hoa province on having an ancient
architectural work honoured globally.
He said that the
recognition requires Vietnam to conserve and promote cultural values of
the citadel and other heritage sites in line with the Vietnam Heritage
Law and the UN Convention Concerning the Protection of the World
Cultural and Natural Heritage.
On this occasion, Thanh
Hoa provincial Party’s Committee launched a range of activities
including an ethnic cultural festival, a photo contest and an exhibition
of documents and artifacts relating to the Ho Dynasty Citadel. Special
tours of the citadel are also organised for visitors to introduce
heritage tourism potential in the province.
The Ho Dynasty Citadel was Vietnam’s capital under the Ho Dynasty (1398-1407).
Located in Vinh Tien and Vinh Long communes in Vinh Loc district, the
citadel measures 870m by 883m and was built within only three months,
between January and March of 1937. It is the only one built entirely of
stone in Vietnam and remained almost intact through ups and downs in
history.
Also known as the Tay Do, An Ton, Tay
Kinh or Tay Giai citadel, the ancient building is famous for being
strategically located where it could be easily defended. The citadel is
protected by a mountain range to the north, while the Ma River runs to
its west and the Buoi River to its south, creating a huge natural
moat./.