Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung speaks at a conference to review activities of the Co Loa – Hanoi Scientific Advisory Council in 2017 and launch its tasks this year (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Hanoi needs to accelerate the preservation and restoration of theancient citadel of Hanoi and the Co Loa Citadel, said Chairman of the municipalPeople’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung.
The official made thestatement during a conference to review activities of the Co Loa – HanoiScientific Advisory Council in 2017 and launch its tasks this year heldon February 8 by the Thang Long – Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre.
In 2017, the council helped the centre expandexcavation area east of the Kinh Thien Palace (the Thang Long Imperial Citadel)to more than 980 square metres. It also mapped out a plan on a spiritualtourism area in line with the preservation of Co Loa historical relic site.
Various exhibitions and educational programmeson Hanoi’s cultural heritage were also held last year by the centre.
At the event, participants discussed measures toenhance heritage preservation, focusing on management, land clearance andhandover of exhibits, among others.
The Chairman of the municipal People’sCommittee also asked the centre to cooperate with relevant agencies tosupervise the handover of exhibits and seek counselling on preservationmeasures from domestic and foreign experts.
He also instructed the centre to accelerate theprocess of significant projects such as the restoration of the Kinh Thien Palaceand the Co Loa Citadel, as well as the organisation of cultural events of thecity and country.
Co Loa, the biggestand most ancient citadel in Vietnam, was built by King An Duong Vuong between214 and 208 BC as the capital of Au Lac, one of the earliest Vietnamesekingdoms.
It is believed to be comprised of nine concentriccircles, yet only vestiges of three circles can be found at present. Theyinclude an 8km exterior wall, a 6.5km polygon-shaped inner wall and a central1.6km rectangular wall.-VNA
