The Citadel of the Ho Dynasty in the northern province of Thanh Hoa has entered UNESCO’s World Heritage List at the 35th session of the organization’s World Heritage Committee on June 27 in Paris.
Ho Dynasty Citadel was one of four cultural heritages that were voted by the Committee on the morning of June 27, according to Mr Vuong Van Viet, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee of Thanh Hoa, who headed a Vietnamese delegation to the event.
The south gate of Ho Dynasty citadel
With the UNESCO recognition for Ho Dynasty Citadel, Vietnam houses seven world cultural heritages, with the others being Hoi An ancient town, Hue citadel, My Son holy land, Ha Long bay, Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park, and Thang Long-Hanoi citadel.
The 14th-century Ho Dynasty citadel was built in the feng shui principles. It testifies to the flowering of neo-Confucianism in late 14th century in Vietnam.
The East gate of Ho Dynasty citadel
It seats in a landscape of great scenic beauty on an axis joining the Tuong Son and Don Son mountains in a plain between the Ma and Buoi rivers.
The citadel buildings represent an outstanding example of a new style of Southeast Asian imperial city.
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| A farmer and an ox cart passing through the gate of the citadel |
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| Buffalo boys sitting in the shade of the citadel, away from the hot sun at noon |
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| A yellow-ripen rice-field inside the citadel |
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From the observation post at the main gate of the citadel, visitors can see Don Son mountain stretching to the south |
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| A mixed rhythm of life |
