US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink (C) at the ceremony (Photo: VNA) ThanhHoa (VNA) – A ceremony to announce the completion of the restoration projectof the southern gate of the Ho Dynasty Citadel in thenorth-central province of Thanh Hoa,which was funded by the US AmbassadorsFund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), took place at the World Cultural Heritage site on June 29.
Builtin 1397 under the Ho dynasty as the capital of Dai Ngu, the citadel is unique forits outstanding construction technique which used large blocks of stone,weighing from 10 tonnes to 26 tonnes each, carefully shaped, interlocked andelevated to about 10 meters high.
The citadel served as a military stronghold to protect the country frominvasion, thus becoming a symbol of patriotism and national pride, and awitness of Vietnamese history during the late 14th and early 15th century. Forthe past six centuries, however, the forces of nature took its toll on thesite.
The gate, especially the left – or western – stone vault, is the mostimportant original structure within the citadel complex, but was also the mostseriously damaged. In 2018, the AFCP approved a grant of 92,500 USD to conservethe stone vault and the southern gate of the citadel.
Speaking at the ceremony, US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink expressed his impressionof the unique cultural and historical values of the World Cultural Heritage, affirmingthat the project not only helps preserve the historical and cultural values ofVietnam and the world, but also contributes to further promoting the Vietnam-USfriendship.
For his part, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen DucQuyen thanked the ambassador and the AFCP for sponsoring theproject, saying the project demonstrates special attention from the US Embassy for conservingand promoting the value of the heritage./.
VNA
