Presidents of Vietnam, Philippines tour Thang Long Imperial Citadel

President Vo Van Thuong (front, fourth from right) and Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. (front, fifth from right) visit the Thang Long Imperial Citadel on January 30. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – President Vo Van Thuong and his Philippine counterpart FerdinandRomualdez Marcos Jr. on January 30 visited the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, a worldcultural heritage site in Hanoi, as part of the latter’s statevisit to Vietnam.

There,the two leaders attended the “Happy Tet 2024” programme that is taking placeahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival at the Central Sector of the citadel.

PresidentThuong introduced the traditional Tet of Vietnam, including its culturalvalues, folk games, and dishes, to his guest. They also talked to local peopleand artisans of craft villages from across Vietnam who are reenacting the traditionalTet spaces of Hanoi, the central and southern regions, and ethnic minoritygroups.

Presidents Vo Van Thuong and Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. talk to artisans while visiting the Vietnamese Tet space held at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel on January 30. (Photo: VNA)

Later,the Presidents took a tour of relics at the imperial citadel, including Doan Mon– one of the main entrances to the citadel – with archaeological structures,the exhibition hall of antiquities and some items recognised as nationaltreasures, and Kinh Thien Palace that used to be the venue of the most importantceremonies, receptions for foreign envoys, and discussions of national issues offeudal dynasties in the past.

The Thang Long ImperialCitadel, built by feudal dynasties in different periods ofVietnam’s history, is one of the most important relic sites in the country. In 2010,the World Heritage Committee recognised the citadel’s Central Sector as a worldcultural heritage site./.

VNA