Lookatvietnam – The Co Loa-Ha Noi Ancient Citadel Preservation Centre’s annual cultural festival will be held at the Thang Long citadel site from January 29 to February 9.

Giant steps: A traditional worship ceremony at last year’s Thang Long Royal Citadel Spring Festival.

Traditional worshipping ceremonies, calligraphy, dragon dances, music, traditional games and martial arts will be held to kick off the festival from January 29 to February 1.

The ancient art of casting bronze drums will be showcased on February 2 at the threshold of the Kinh Thien Palace by artisans from the Lam Kinh Thanh Hoa Heritage Association and the Thanh Hoa Antique Collectors Association.

A documentary titled Thang Long - City of Ascending Dragon will be screened there on February 4.

An exhibition combining antiquities excavated at the site and contemporary fine art made of wood, stone, bronze and gems will be on display.

The Doan Mon excavation site will be open to the public and visitors will be able to see a brick court built in the Le dynasty (1428-1788) and ceramic objects from the Ly (1009-1225) and Tran (1225-1400) reigns.

On Monday, the Co Loa-Ha Noi Ancient Citadel Preservation Centre sent the revised application to propose the Thang Long citadel as a UNESCO world heritage site. The application was sent to Paris last September and UNESCO suggested that the Cot Co Stadium, which used to be a place for organising royal ceremonies, be returned to the ancient site.

Authorities plan to close the stadium and return it to the site, said Tran Quang Dung, Deputy Director of the centre.

If approved, the Thang Long citadel relic will be recognised as a World Heritage site by July 2010.

(Source: Viet Nam News)