Thang Long Imperial Citadel is a model of heritage conservation.

At the recent 46th session, UNESCO approved Vietnam's proposal on the orientation and vision for research, conservation and development of the World Heritage Site of the Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.

UNESCO's consensus opens a new phase in promoting the value of Thang Long Imperial Citadel with the highlight of dismantling some construction items to proceed to restore the space of Kinh Thien Palace. There are few heritages whose hidden values ​​are even greater than the known values ​​such as Thang Long Imperial Citadel. Therefore, the task of both researching, preserving and promoting the value of this world cultural heritage site is extremely special. After two years of submission, international experts highly appreciated the dossier to preserve the world heritage of Thang Long Imperial Citadel. The most important issues that UNESCO approved were: archaeological research, dismantling constructions that do not contribute to the outstanding universal value of the heritage and are encroaching on the central axis (Than Dao axis), and rebuilding Kinh Thien Palace. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Quang, Director of the Thang Long Heritage Conservation Center, Hanoi, said: UNESCO's approval of Vietnam's proposal on the orientation, vision for research, conservation and development of the World Heritage Site of the Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is extremely important. After the decision of the World Heritage Committee, it will be implemented to make these conservation records a reality at the heritage site, helping visitors here to better understand the great contributions of the previous emperors as well as the length of Vietnamese history over more than 1,000 years.

Thang Long Imperial Citadel relic site.

The journey of researching Kinh Thien Palace is a journey from nothing to something. From only having the foundation of Kinh Thien Palace, then Long Thien Palace (replacing Kinh Thien Palace under the Nguyen Dynasty), up to now, scientists have completed 60-70% of the process of restoring Kinh Thien Palace. Each time they excavate the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, researchers clarify its value. Along with the research on the tangible value, ancient royal activities and rituals are carried out. Mr. Johnathan Baker, Chief Representative of UNESCO Office in Vietnam, informed: "UNESCO highly appreciates the efforts of the management boards of heritage sites, including the Thang Long Imperial Citadel heritage, and the authorities of Hanoi and Vietnam in linking tangible heritage with intangible heritage, as well as promoting the value of heritage to contemporary life". With outstanding global values ​​built up over more than 10 centuries, the Thang Long Imperial Citadel heritage site is a particularly important cultural address in the heritage system in the capital city of Hanoi. Since opening to visitors and being recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage, the Thang Long Imperial Citadel heritage site has become increasingly attractive with large-scale, diverse and attractive cultural events and activities. Source: https://hanoionline.vn/video/hoang-thanh-thang-long-la-hinh-mau-ve-bao-ton-di-san-259147.htm