The Centre for Preservation of Co Loa – Hanoi Ancient Citadel Relics today sent the documents of the Thang Long ancient citadel to UNESCO for consideration to recognize it as a world cultural heritage site.

Visitors in Thang Long ancient citadel.

The documents were amended under the UNESCO’s suggestions. The most important suggestion was that Vietnam should not add the Flagpole Stadium into the Thang Long ancient citadel area.

The Deputy Director of the Centre for Preservation of Co Loa – Hanoi Ancient Citadel Relics, Tran Quang Dung, said that the Prime Minister asked the Ministries of Defence and Construction to quickly hand over the Flagpole Stadium to the Hanoi People’s Committee.

The amended documents are 871 pages in total, nine pages more than the previous draft. The accompanied video clip increases from 41 to 45 minutes. The number of appendixes decreases from ten to eight. If nothing changes, the citadel will be recognized as a world cultural heritage site in July 2010, before the 1,000^th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi capital.

The Centre for Preservation of Co Loa – Hanoi Ancient Citadel Relics will organize the Thang Long Ancient Citadel Spring Festival from the 4^th to the 15^th day of the first lunar month inside the ancient citadel. The key part of the festival will be an exhibition of objects entitled “Culture of Xu Doai.” Xu Doai is the northern area of Ha Tay province, which was merged into Hanoi in 2008.

On the 10^th day of the first lunar month, Hanoians will have a chance to see craftsmen cast a bronze drum in the ancient citadel.

Tuan Hai