A
part of the Ho Dynasty Citadel has been recognised as a National Historical
Vestige, according to Do Quang Trong, director of the Ho Dynasty Citadel
Preservation Centre.

La Thanh, an external
belt of the Ho Dynasty Citadel, situated in the Vinh Loc District of central
Thanh Hoa Province, built from soil and bamboo, helped protect the internal
citadel and royal area.

Ho Quy Ly, the first
king of the Ho Dynasty, built the Ho Dynasty Citadel in 1397 over a period of
three months. The Citadel, with its walls and four main gates made out of
beautifully carved, overlapping green square stone plates, is a cultural and
historically significant national monument recognised by the State.

The Citadel, connected to a
short-lived dynasty (1400-1407), sparked a reform of the examination system, the
construction of more schools, the heightening of ancient Vietnamese script and
the issue of bank notes.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News