A grand ceremony attended by President Truong Tan Sang was held in the northern city of Nam Dinh on October 5 to mark the 750th anniversary of Thien Truong, the old capital of the Tran dynasty (1225-1400).

On the occasion, the city was also honoured for its socio-economic achievements with the presentation of the Ho Chi Minh Order, the second-highest order of the nation, from the State's leader.

The same day, it was also recognised by the Government as a first-class city.

Addressing the ceremony, the provincial Party Committee's Secretary Pham Hong Ha recalled the city's 750-year history.

In Spring 1262, after a 37-year reign, King Tran Thai Tong, whose birthplace was Tuc Mac Village (now My Loc district of Nam Dinh), ordered his juniors to build a royal complex and a temple to worship ancestors here, all of which were upgraded into the Thien Truong Palace complex.

The complex acted as a special administrative and political centre south of the kingdom's capital city of Thang Long (Ha Noi).

With its military advantages and prosperous economy, Thien Truong also played a key role in national defence.

President Sang asked the local authorities to work to develop Nam Dinh into the hub of the southern Red River Delta, along with pushing its maritime economy.

Earlier, the President and other high-ranking officials gave offerings at the Tran and Bao Loc Temple , where 14 kings and mandarins of Tran Dynasty are worshipped.

At the site, Sang praised Thien Truong as a place that has nurtured outstanding people who contributed much to the nation.-VNA