Talk show on millennium imprints of Thăng Long–Hà Nội

VGP – A talk show was kick-started this morning at the headquarters of VGP in Hà Nội, focusing on the thousand-year civilization of Thăng Long–Hà Nội, the preparation for the city’s millennium anniversary, and the conservation of its tangible and intangible cultural heritages.

Dr. Phùng Hữu Phú (center), Standing Deputy Director of the Party’s Central Committee for Communications and Education, Director of the Propagation Subcommittee under the National Steering Committee for the 1000th anniversary of Thăng Long–Hà Nội, Dr. Phạm Quang Long (2nd from R), Director of the Hà Nội Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Dr. Lưu Trần Tiêu (1st from R), President of the Việt Nam Cultural Heritage Association, are guests to the talk show on millennium imprints of Thăng Long–Hà Nội, held by VGP on July 3, 2010 – Photo: VGP

The talks, themed “Thousand-year imprints of Thăng Long–Hà Nội,” draw the participation of three guest-speakers, Dr. Phùng Hữu Phú, Standing Deputy Director of the Party’s Central Committee for Communications and Education, Director of the Propagation Subcommittee under the National Steering Committee for the 1000th anniversary of Thăng Long–Hà Nội, Dr. Phạm Quang Long, Director of the Hà Nội Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Dr. Lưu Trần Tiêu, President of the Việt Nam Cultural Heritage Association.

According to Dr. Lưu Trần Tiêu, Hà Nội is always the cradle of cultural values for thousands of years.

Researchers have discovered many sites within Hà Nội, which are dated back to the cultures of Phùng Nguyên (2nd millennium BC), Đồng Đậu, and Gò Mun (1st half of the 1st millennium BC).
Recent archaeological discoveries at Thành Dền (suburban district of Mê Linh), especially bronze artefacts, prove the high metallurgical skills of the residents. The site can be considered as a major metallurgical center in the Red River Delta.
Cổ Loa Temple in the suburban district of Đông Anh, Hà Nội

Mr. Tiêu mentioned the Cổ Loa Citadel (suburban district of Đông Anh) as a breakthrough which shows the ancient Vietnamese people’s strategic thinking in their march to the lowland.

Cổ Loa was the capital city of Việt Nam during the 3rd century BC and under the reign of Ngô Quyền (938-944). As a confluence of both land roads and waterways, Cổ Loa plays an important role in controlling the plains and the midlands.

“It is possible to say that, each and every historical stage of Việt Nam bears Hà Nội’s imprints,” stressed Dr. Tiêu.

He continued to hail the authorities of Hà Nội for endeavor for restoring cultural heritages, including the Ancient Quarter, four guardian temples, the Temple of Literature, Ba Đình Square, French-style villas, pagodas and temples, lakes, green areas, and Hanoian life styles.

The doctor suggested Hà Nội to build high-value works which will surely become heritages later though the city boasts for 5,170 historical and cultural sites, including 2,100 nationally-recognized ones.

Meanwhile, Mr. Phùng Hữu Phú asserted that Hà Nội possesses many strengths, of which the topmost is human resource because the capital city is always the convergence of talents and heroes from all corners of the country. “Hanoians are the crystallization of the Vietnamese people,” said Mr. Phú, adding that once this resource is brought into play well, the city will see more rapid and stronger development.

A model for the city gate on National Highway 5 linking Hà Nội and Hải Phòng City, idea by Architect Nguyễn Thế Hùng

Over the past days, the construction of city gates has emerged as an issue of public concern. Commenting this news, Mr. Phạm Quang Long stated that this is not an impromptu. However, it is necessary to carefully consider all factors, from location, design, materials and usage because these gates are “not for Hà Nội only but for the whole society, for the past, the present and the future.”

Talking of the grand anniversary which highlights the imprints of a thousand-year Thăng Long–Hà Nội, Mr. Phú underlined three features.

First, the anniversary will be a good chance to inventory the 1,000-year legacy which can be exploited in the future development of the capital city.

Second, this is a moment for each and every Hanoian in particular and Vietnamese in general to acquire a better insight in the thousand-year-old capital.
Finally, on the occasion, some projects will be completed and will become valuable heritages around a century later.