The round-shaped cannon-balls were polished carefully with the largest measuring 10-15 centimetres in diameter and the smallest having a diameter of 5-7 centimetres.

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.

The Citadel, built according to the feng shui principles, was sited in a landscape of great scenic beauty on an axis joining the Tuong Son and Don Son Mountains. The citadel buildings represent an outstanding example of a new style of south-east Asian imperial city.

The information was released on January 5 by the Centre for Ho Dynasty Citadel Heritage Conservation, which, however, said it needs to conduct more research to figure out the exact age of the well.

The contest aims to encourage young people 18 years of age or under to reflect upon the importance of World Heritage sites and celebrate the preservation of these sites for future generations.

The citadel, which will be officially recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site at a ceremony to receive the certificate on June 16, has attracted around 14,000 visitors within the first six months of 2012, double the amount in the same period last year.

Located in Thanh Hoa Province’s Vinh Loc District, the citadel, which was a great work of architecture, was the capital of Vietnam from 1397 to 1407. It consists of three sections: a bamboo hedge, a moat and a citadel wall, plus a palace complex with marble-paved roads connecting each palace.

With UNESCO’s recognition, the Ho citadel will become one of seven world cultural and natural heritage sites in Vietnam, including Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, Hoi An Ancient Town, Hue Ancient Capital, My Son Holy Land, and the Thang Long Royal Citadel.

A comprehensive five–year Management Plan for the property was submitted in November 2010. The control of urban development near the Inner Citadel, in Vinh Loc town particularly along the axis between the Inner Citadel and Mount Don Son, and in the buffer zone generally should receive specific attention so as to protect all view lines along the axes between topographical features, and views within the area enclosed by the line of the outer wall and the Ma and Buoi rivers. Special attention is needed for the development of a risk-preparedness and management strategy and a strategy for involving local people in the protection and management of the property. The local authority and people are working closely for the preservation and protection of the property through a training and public-awareness raising programme.

To most of the visitors, the main attraction is the gigantic stone citadel built six centuries ago, which the only one is built entirely of stone in Vietnam. It has remained almost intact through ups and downs in history.

The average dimensions of blocks of stone used to build the walls of the citadel are of 2.2m x 1.5m x 1.2m and weighed an average 20-25 tons. Some of them were 4.2m x 1.7m x 1.5m and 5.1m x 1m x 1.2m with the biggest weighing up to 26.7 tons. The larger blocks were laid under the smaller ones. This was seen as an achievement in construction engineering, using such large stone blocks that have never been found in other imperial cities. The rock site in An Tôn Mountain, Vĩnh Yên commune, Vĩnh Lộc district, which supplied stone for the building of the citadel, and the Nam Giao worship platform, which were built of only small blocks measuring 40cm-50cm x 30cm or 40cm x 20cm-30cm, also draw many tourists.

It has been officially presented with a certificate of its heritage status, this month by the UNESCO.

While investing more in the management, preservation and development of the site, Thanh Hoa province plans to conduct deeper research on the Ho Dynasty Citadel. The province hopes that the site will receive 35,000 visitors a year by 2015.

(VNA)

Immense rice field around Ho Citadel

The Ho Dynasty Citadel is finally gaining its attention of researchers and passing tourists. Built around 600 years ago, with four gates facing south, north, east and west, the Ho Dynasty Citadel is a stone military architecture with great cultural and historical value. The world cultural heritage site in Thanh Hoa central Province received its certificate last weekend and it is about time people appreciated this piece of the Vietnam’s history.

The relic stretching over two communes of Vinh Long and Vinh Tien in Vinh Loc District used to be the capital of Vietnam from 1397 to 1407 but it seems UNESCO’s recognition has been the catalyst to make people sit up and take notice of its existence.

The citadel includes three sections: La Thanh and bamboo hedge, moat and citadel wall, and an internal area with a number of palaces connected to one another by marble-paved roads. It measures 870 meters by 830 meters. Outside the citadel there is Bao Thanh (Ly Cung) palace, which is known as the altar of the sky and the earth.

The citadel was built using huge square stone stabs which are 5.1 meters long, 1.59 meters wide and 1.3 meters high, some of them weighing 15-20 tons. They overlap each other without any substance to hold them together and have stood strong for six centuries.It is strategically located so that it can be defended from attackers. The citadel is protected by a mountain range to the north, while the Ma River runs to the west and the Buoi River to the south, creating a huge natural moat.

The most of its main structures have been seriously damaged, while only the wall and four main entrances are well preserved. Therefore, tourists to the site often spend only 10 minutes to look at the walls and admire the immense rice fields around to recall a glorious historical time. It is the main reason why the site is desperately in need of preservation and re-development as its historical value alone should bring in the tourists.Although the Ho Dynasty only lasted from 1400 to 1407, Emperor Ho left a significant legacy. He is credited for pioneering the circulation of the first banknotes in Vietnam, expanding the network of schools and promoting the use of the Vietnamese Nom ideographic script.

The site has been excavated since 2004. Archeologists have found artifacts made from baked bricks, stone marbles, tiles shaped like dragons, stone bullets, arrows and nails and household pottery inside the citadel.

Participants of the seminar also pointed out solutions to promote the citadel’s value, including attracting more investment, fostering promotional activities, and raising public awareness of the need to protect the complex. The province’s hospitality sector is advised to also improve the quality of human resources training, enhance their qualifications, design more tourism products, and co-operate with other localities in the region to advertise the citadel to visitors.

The Ho Dynasty Citadel was built in 1397 and served as the country’s capital in the final years of the Tran dynasty and during the subsequent the Ho dynasty (1400 – 1407), when it was official named as‘Tay Do’ (Western Capital).

UNESCO recognized the citadel as a World Cultural Heritage site on June 27, 2011. A ceremony to receive a certificate of recognition will be held by the Thanh Hoa provincial authorities on June 16, 2012.

Coming to the exhibition, there is authorities leaders and researchers, besides, there are some readers and press workers come to report about the activity.

There are more than 500 materials of the exhibition house with the research, projects and composing works which are printed into books. From the materials, the tradition and culture of homeland of Thanh Hoa could be raised into each person’s mind. Meanwhile, it also gives the researchers a series of professional materials for the needs of learning, researching about the historical ideas, and culture of Vietnam in general and Thanh Hoa in particular.

Deputy Minister Son affirmed that Vietnam is ready to host the Asia-Pacific Regional Consultative Meeting of National Commissions for UNESCO, slated for June, in coincidence with the 35th founding anniversary of Vietnam’s National Commission for UNESCO and the world heritage recognition ceremony of the Ho Citadel in Thanh Hoa province.

Mr Son highlighted the results of Vietnam-UNESCO practical cooperation, saying that UNESCO recognition of Vietnam’s many cultural, natural, and intangible heritages and biosphere reserves has significantly contributed to the country’s socio-economic development.

On the occasion, Mr Son put forward Vietnam’s proposal recognizing the file of the Hung Kings death anniversary as a world intangible heritage.

Vietnam always supports the plan of action proposed by Irina Bokova at a special session held in January 26.

Vietnam always support UNESCO’s reform policies and share the difficulties presented by the global economic recession, especially after the US decision to reduce financial aid for the organisation.

For her part, Irina Bokova proposed Vietnam coordinate with UNESCO to call for the US Government to cooperate in UNESCO activities and the US congress to reconsider its provision of financing for the organization’s operations.