Archaeologists suggest restoring canal surrounding ancient citadel

Archaeologists have suggested authorities restore a canal system in the Ho Dynasty Citadel in the central province of Thanh Hoa.
Archaeologists suggest restoring canal surrounding ancient citadel ảnh 1Traces of the canal's banks made of clay, small stones, and laterite at the citadel. (Photo: VNA)

Thanh Hoa (VNS/VNA)-
Archaeologists have suggested authorities restore a canal system in the HoDynasty Citadel in the central province of Thanh Hoa.

The suggestion was made after a four-month excavation at the site, whichstarted in last October.

Following a decision by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism,archaeologists from the Vietnam Archaeology Institute and the Ho CitadelHeritage Preservation Centre excavated the canal in the citadel.

They conducted research on a total area of 7,000sq.m and found traces of thecanal banks, which included clay, laterite and architectural materials,utensils and tools.

They found various objects including small pebbles, fragments of bricks andtiles, copper coins, as well as pieces of ceramic from the Ly (1010-1225), Tran(1225-1400), Ho (1400-1407), Le (1428-1527) and Nguyen (1802-1945) dynasties.

The archaeologists provided information on the overall structure of the citadel,which revealed the existence of a stone workshop at the site.

They stressed the need to restore the canal surrounding the citadel to recreatethe original environment, culture and history of the site to further attractvisitors.

The excavation will last until April this year.

Based on results of this excavation and previous ones in 2015 and 2016, theresearchers have uncovered the form, function and role of the canal.

This is the first time historians be able to confirm the canal is an importantpart of the citadel. It measures 50-60m in width and 6.8-7.2m in depth, howeverthe length is yet to be established.

The Ho Dynasty Citadel, also known as Tay Do, Tay Giai or An Ton Citadel, is aspecial structure made of stone, which is located in the communes of Vinh Tienand Vinh Long, in the Vinh Lo district of Thanh Hoa province.

It was first built by Ho Quy Ly (1336-1407) at the end of 14th century andserved as the capital of Dai Viet under the Tran dynasty (1389-1400) and thecapital of Dai Ngu under the Ho dynasty (1400-1407).

The dimensions of the citadel are 870m by 883m.

According to experts, it is the only citadel in the country built entirely ofstone that has remained nearly intact throughout the nation’s history. Thestructure is an outstanding example of a new style of construction for aSoutheast Asian imperial city.

It was recognised as a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO in 2011./.
VNA

See more

A performance by Choeur Tim choir at Vietnam cultural night in Versailles. (Photo: VNA)

French choir revives Vietnamese folk music

Choeur Tim choir, a group of young singers from France’s Versailles city, is captivating audiences with their passionate renditions of Vietnamese folk music, bringing the rich musical heritage of Vietnam to life in Paris and far beyond.

A performance at the gathering held by the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Macau on February 9 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese expats uphold national traditions in Macau

The growing Vietnamese presence in Macau in recent years is driven by the development of the comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and China, including Macau, according to President of the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Macau Duong Trung Duc.

Bat Trang ceramic products not only serve people in their daily life, but also have high aesthetic value thanks to the amazing craftsmanship and artisans' creativity. (Photo: nhandan.vn)

Hanoi’s craft villages to make entry into global creative network

This achievement reinforces Hanoi’s position on the world cultural map while opening new opportunities for the villages to enhance their competitive edge, preserve traditional values, expand market reach, bolster international cultural exchange, and foster sustainable development.

Weightlifter Pham Thi Hong Thanh targets a gold at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand. (Photo courtesy of Hong Thanh)

Athletes setting high goals for 2025

Athletes and coaches across national training centres have returned to intensive training, preparing for strong performances in 2025’s international competitions.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and overseas Vietnamese in Singapore at the Chingay Parade 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese in Singapore join Chingay Parade 2025

The Vietnamese community in Singapore showcased culinary delights such as pho (noodle soup with beef or chicken), banh mi (bread), and banh trang (rice paper) at the Chingay Parade 2025 on February 7-8.

Khmer traditional musical equipment handed over to Khmer traditional music clubs and groups. (Photo: VNA)

Soc Trang works to preserve ethnic minorities’ culture

The Party Committee and People's Committee of Soc Trang province where more than 35% of total population are ethnic minorities have always paid attention to preserving and promoting the traditional values of local ethnic minorities.