Hanoi strengthens UNESCO cooperation for receiving the imperial citadel!

Hanoi strengthens UNESCO cooperation for receiving the imperial citadel!

On May 21, 2025, an important meeting took place in Hanoi, which focused on the cooperation between Vietnam and UNESCO. High -ranking representatives, including Nguyen Minh VU, took part in this meeting, the constant deputy foreign minister and chair of the Vietnamese National Commission for UNESCO, and VU Thu Ha, the Vice Chair of the Hanoi Volks Committee. The meeting was opened by Tran Sy Thanh, the chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, who received the director of the UNESCO World Heritage Center, Lazare Eloundou Assomo,

Tran Sy Thanh expressed his gratitude to UNESCO for supporting the preservation of the cultural heritage in Vietnam, especially in Hanoi. He asked for further support in restoring the Kinh Thien Palace and the Kaiserzitadelle Thang Long, which is an essential part of the Vietnamese heritage. In addition to the imperial citadel, Hanoi also plans to prepare a dossier for registration of the Co Loa reliquary for the UNESCO to honor their cultural value at an international level.

preservation of the imperial citadel Thang Long

The imperial citadel by Thang Long, which was built under the LY dynasty in the 11th century, is the most important and best preserved part of this impressive historical site. It illustrates the independence of ại VIệt and was built on the remains of a Chinese fortress from the 7th century. This citadel, which acted as a center of regional political power for almost thirteen centuries, reflects a unique Southeast Asian culture that is specific to the lower Red River Delta. The central sector of this citadel not only proves China's influence in the north, but also that of the Kingdom of Champa in the south.

The collaboration with the UNESCO is crucial to ensure the archaeological integrity of the citadel through extensive studies. Lazare Eloundou Assomo confirmed the support for Hanois's conservation projects and emphasized the importance of the imperial citadel for humanity. The aim is to develop a set of rules for the management of the CO-Loa relics and to evaluate the tourist pressure on the site. During the meeting, Assomo Tran Sy Thanh invited to visit the headquarters of the World Heritage Center in Paris, and Tran Sy Thanh plans to arrange this at a suitable time.

legal protection and future steps

The legal protection of the imperial citadel is based on the law on cultural heritage of 2001 and the law on construction work, whereby in the event of conflicts between these laws, the law on the legacy has priority. This protection is appropriate, but could be supplemented by setting up an extended buffer zone in order to better preserve the site. The administration is responsible for the CO Loa and Thang Long Vestiges Preservation Center, which was founded in 2006. A management plan is available, but requires consistent implementation and increased archaeological studies.

Finally, it can be said that the initiative of the Vietnamese government to promote the Kaiserzitadel and the Co-Loa relics in close cooperation with UNESCO is of great value for both national and international cultural exchange. The protection and maintenance of these sites are not only of great importance for Vietnam, but also for all of humanity.