New discoveries found after Ho Dynasty Citadel excavation
The Institute of Archaeology and the Centre for Conservation of World Heritage Citadel of the Ho Dynasty held a conference on March 4 to report preliminary findings of excavation of four gates of the citadel.
Thanh Hoa (VNA) – The Institute of Archaeology and the Centre forConservation of World Heritage Citadel of the Ho Dynasty held a conference onMarch 4 to report preliminary findings of excavation of four gates of thecitadel.
The Citadel of the Ho Dynasty was built in 1397 as the capital of Dai Ngu (thename of Vietnam at that time), now Vinh Loc district, the central province ofThanh Hoa. It is unique for its outstanding construction technique which usedlarge rock slabs, weighing from 10 to 26 tonnes each, carefullyshaped, interlocked and elevated to an altitude of about 10 metres.
The citadel served as a military stronghold to protect thecountry from invasion, thus becoming a symbol of patriotism and national pride,and a witness of Vietnamese history during the late 14th and early 15thcentury. For the past six centuries, however, the forces of nature took itstoll on the site. It was recognised by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage in2011.
Recently, excavations have been conducted on a total area of5,000 sq.m, including 2,000 sq.m each at the northern and southern gates, and500 sq.m each at the eastern and western gates, and the Royal Path of thecitadel.
Excavation efforts initially identified the appearance ofthe world cultural heritage at the gate and wall areas. The overallarchitecture of the Ho Dynasty Citadel is distributed into many horizontal andvertical layers, all of which are symmetrical about the Royal Path. Thestructure of the three walls on the East, South, and West are similar in sizeand slab interlocking techniques. Meanwhile, the stone layers in the wall andthe northern gate are smaller in size, with larger joints, and there are also morerows of stones.
The excavation clearly revealed the vestiges of the Royal Pathin the inner part of the citadel with traces of green stone embankment andslate at the middle of the southern gate.
Traces of a road with one 4.65m-wide lane and a 16m-widelane have been unearthed.
The recent excavation also found some types of rectangular bricksdecorated with leaf pattens from the Tran - Ho dynasties, flat tiles and gray curvedtiles in the Le dynasty, and ceramic pieces from these dynasties./.
Ho Dynasty Citadel, also known as Tay Do citadel, in Vinh Long and Vinh Tien communes, Vinh Loc district, the central province of Thanh Hoa province is one of the most unique stone architectures of Vietnam and the world.
A citadel from the Ho Dynasty, located in Vinh Loc district of Thanh Hoa province, was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO in 2011 due to its huge stone walls, which are a unique architectural construction in Vietnam and neighbouring countries.
An exhibition featuring Thanh Hoa cultural heritage is underway in the northern province of Thanh Hoa, as part of activities held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)’s Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
UNESCO Representative in Vietnam Christian Manhart recognised efforts by authorities of central Thanh Hoa province and experts to study and excavate the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty, while meeting with the preservation centre for this world cultural heritage site on January 9.
Kon Tum aims to eliminate all substandard housing by October 31. Authorities will continue to review and prioritise support for households in serious hardship, especially those who rendered service to the nation, the poor, and victims of Agent Orange, while ensuring transparency and preventing policy abuse.
Vietnam has achieved many remarkable results, such as the smoking rate among adults decreased from 23.8% in 2010 to 20.8% in 2021. The rate of exposure to secondhand smoke decreased from 73.1% to 45.6%.
More than half a century after the war, millions of unexploded bombs and mines remain buried underground, threatening lives and hindering development in many localities.
According to the indictment, during the execution of various projects and procurement packages across the provinces of Vinh Phuc, Quang Ngai, and Phu Tho, Phuc Son Group's Chairman and General Director Nguyen Van Hau, who is also Chairman of the Thang Long investment, trade and real estate JSC, either personally committed, directed subordinates, or worked with partner entities to carry out unlawful activities related bidding and accounting procedures.
According to Ben Tre authorities, the province will continue to strengthen IUU fishing prevention by enforcing central directives and enhancing public awareness and compliance among local fishing communities.
Trial operations at the new public administrative service centres in Thanh Khe and Ngu Hanh Son wards show that the reception and processing of citizens' documents on the new wards’ data system have been smoothly handled by the staff, enabling quick settlement and facilitating easy access to public services for the people.
The event, the 12th of its kind jointly, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium and Chris Geyskens, Chairwoman of the Belgium chapter of the Hoi An – Vietnam Association for Victims of AO/Dioxin.
The Nguyen Du Lao-Vietnamese bilingual school has positioned itself as a prestigious education establishment, nurturing generations of Vietnamese and Lao students while preserving Vietnamese culture and language as well as strengthening the special bonds between the two countries
For households of people with meritorious service and relatives of fallen soldiers, the province supported the construction and renovation of 2,374 houses, achieving 100% of the set target, 342 newly built and 2,032 renovated.
Held under the theme “Pride and Aspiration”, this year's “Glory to Vietnam” programme aimed to inspire the Vietnamese people's ambition to reach new heights during the era of integration and development.
According to the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC), this year’s campaign provided long-term aid for 3,785 individuals and organisations. Support included houses, clean water systems, school meal facilities, books, and livelihood assistance, with a total value of more than 118 billion VND.
The programmes have brought about positive changes to rural infrastructure, comprehensively improved the material and spiritual lives of farmers, and contributed to Vietnam's economic restructuring, said PM Pham Minh Chinh.
The festival highlighted the contributions and robust development of Vietnam's revolutionary press over the past century while promoting press products and showcasing the creativity of Vietnamese journalists.
The programme on sustainable poverty reduction has achieved its annual targets for reducing the poverty rate as assigned by the National Assembly and the Government. It has fulfilled five specific objectives and five five-year goals, and met nine out of 12 indicators related to addressing basic social service shortages.
UNICEF stands ready to support the Government in implementing this important law and in continuing to invest in teachers as the cornerstone of a resilient, inclusive, and high-quality education system for all children.
PM Pham Minh Chinh highlighted how Vietnam's revolutionary press has continuously evolved and strengthened over the past century, affirming its role as a sharp and vital political, cultural, and ideological weapon serving the Fatherland and the people in the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party.
Vietnamese Consul General in Fukuoka Vu Chi Mai highlighted the growing demand for Vietnamese workers in Kyushu, especially in Fukuoka, Oita, and Saga prefectures. Currently, the region employs about 35,000 Vietnamese manual workers and over 5,000 IT engineers.
In Vietnam’s case, she said, President Ho Chi Minh demonstrated his strategic vision by founding the revolutionary press a century ago. The late leader understood the press's role not only as a means to reflect the country’s realities but also as a powerful tool to strengthen national unity and inspire the resistance wars and national construction process.
In recent interviews granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporters in Mexico, prominent figures reflected on the press’s legacy and its global influence.
VietnamPlus e-newspaper of the VNA clinched an A prize in the “Outstanding Press Product” category for its immersive 3D multimedia project, “Epic of Reunification,” a groundbreaking blend of storytelling and technology. The VNA won another A prize for its eye-catching exhibition booth.
East Gate of Ho Dynasty Citadel (Photo: VNA) 
