Discovering 2 amazing world cultural heritages in Vietnam - Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and Hue Ancient Capital

Discovering 2 amazing world cultural heritages in Vietnam – Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and Hue Ancient Capital

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Vietnam currently has 5 world cultural heritages, in which the complex of the ancient capital Hue and the central relic area of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Hanoi are proofs of a beautiful and diverse country in terms of natural scenery, national cultural identity and has a long history that attracts many domestic and international tourists to visit.

HUE ANCIENT CAPITAL – THE FIRST WORLD CULTURAL HERITAGE IN VIETNAM

Quần thể di tích Cố Đô Huế - Di sản văn hóa thế giới đầu tiên ở Việt Nam

Built by the Nguyen Dynasty in the early 19th century, the complex of Hue Ancient Capital is one of the cultural heritages in Vietnam that attracts a large number of domestic and foreign tourists to visit. This is also the first heritage of Vietnam recognized by UNESCO in December 1993.

The Complex of Hue Ancient Capital is a world cultural heritage according to criterion number 4, having met the following factors:

+ Represents unique artistic achievements, masterpieces created by human hands.

+ Having great value in terms of construction techniques, architectural art in an urban development plan or a landscape beautification program in a cultural area of the world.

+ A typical architectural complex of an important historical period.

+ Closely associated with important events, influential ideas or beliefs, or with historical celebrities.

The Complex of Hue Ancient Capital is located along the banks of the Perfume River. From 1802 to 1945, Hue was the capital of the unified Vietnam under the reign of 13 Nguyen kings with 253 works in the Citadel, 7 clusters of mausoleums, Ho Quyen (Tiger Arena), Nam Giao Altar and Hon Chen Palace.

Prominent in the complex are three citadels: the Royal Citadel, the Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Citadel, arranged in opposite directions throughout on a South-North axis. The system of citadels and palaces here has a harmonious combination of Eastern and Western architectural quintessence, set in an interesting natural setting with Ngu Binh Mountain, Huong Giang Stream, Gia Vien Dune and Boc Thanh Dune.

UNDERSTANDING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF KINGS OF NGUYEN THROUGH THE MAUSOLEUMS

Giải mã tính cách của các vị vua Nguyễn qua Lăng tẩm

Each mausoleum of King Nguyen reflects the life and personality of the resting owner:

+ Gia Long’s Mausoleum: Rustic but majestic in the middle of the mountains and forests, making viewers feel the heroism of a war general who has experienced hundreds of battles.

+ Minh Mang’s Mausoleum: The majestic and peaceful place in the middle of the forest, mountains, lakes and ponds is cleverly embellished, you can see the great will of a talented politician and the dignified personality of a methodical poet.

+ Tu Duc’s Mausoleum: Poetic and lyrical, created mainly by the sophistication of people, the landscape here reminds visitors of the image of a man carrying heavy compassion, for the heart of a king cannot be expressed through the weak character of a poet.
+ Thieu Tri’s Mausoleum: Dignified, but also deep and melancholy in the middle of a lonely place, also partly expressing the confidant of a poet who transcended literature but could not follow his predecessors in politics.
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WORLD CULTURAL HERITAGE: IMPERIAL CITADEL OF THANG LONG – HANOI

Di sản văn hóa thế giới Hoàng thành Thăng Long - Hà Nội

Along with the Hue Ancient Citadel relic complex, Thang Long Imperial Citadel is also one of the most important monuments in Vietnam. Thang Long Imperial Citadel was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage in Vietnam in July 2010. With 3 outstanding criteria:

+ The only evidence of the long-standing cultural tradition of the Vietnamese in the Red River Delta through historical periods.

+ A special proof of the long-term cultural exchange process; a place receiving many cultural influences from the outside: many theories and ideas of universal value of human civilization are applied to create unique and creative features of a political, economic and cultural center of the country.

+ Having direct connection with many important historical events of the country in relation to the region and the world.

At the opening ceremony of the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi on October 1, 2010, Ms. Irina Bokova – Director-General of UNESCO presented the certificate to recognize Thang Long Imperial Citadel as the World Cultural Heritage Site to Hanoi City leaders

HIGHLIGHTS AND UNIQUE VALUES OF THE THANG LONG IMPERIAL CITADEL

Giá trị nổi bật và độc đáo của khu di tích trung tâm Hoàng thành Thăng Long

This world cultural relic has a total area of more than 18,000 hectares, including the archaeological site of 18 Hoang Dieu and the remaining relics in the Hanoi Citadel such as the Hanoi flagpole, Doan Mon, Kinh Thien Palace, D67 house, Hau Lau, Bac Mon, walls and 8 gates of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Throughout thousands of years of history, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long has undergone many changes, but the center of the Imperial Citadel, especially the Forbidden City, is mostly unchanged. Only the internal architecture has been built and repaired many times. It is this feature that explains why on the 18 Hoang Dieu archaeological site, layers of architectural relics are overlapped through historical periods. These monuments have relationships and interlinkages, forming a complex, but rich and attractive whole, reflecting clearly the relationship between urban planning and architectural space, as well as the continuity between dynasties in the history of Thang Long capital construction.

(Tran Thi Cam Nhi – Wiki travel)