Exhibitions and displays to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the inscription of Thăng Long Imperial Citadel on UNESCO World Heritage List (2010 – 2020)
On the 10th anniversary of Thăng Long Imperial Citadel inscription by UNESCO on the World Heritage List, Thăng Long-Hà Nội Heritage Conservation Centre has organized two displays and exhibitions to serve the visiting public.
The Centre has coordinated with the Regional Council of Île-de-France to organize a thematic exhibition “Provins Medieval City of France and the Citadel of Thăng Long: Cultural Heritage in the heart of two cities”. This is an event to foster the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Hà Nội and the Île-de-France Regional Council (2018-2021), and realize the cooperation between the Thăng Long – Hà Nội Heritage Conservation Centre and Provins in the following areas: Cross-display of two heritage sites at Thăng Long Imperial Citadel and Provins Medieval City in order to enhance the promotion of heritage sites in Vietnam and France; Enhanced learning, experience sharing and professional training for staff working in heritage conservation and tourism. Bilateral cooperation is expected to bring practical results for the conservation, promotion of heritage values and tourism development in the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long.
Band-cutting ceremony of the exhibition
The exhibition “Provins Medieval City of France and the Citadel of Thăng Long: Cultural Heritage in the heart of two cities” introduces 200 photos, documents and objects.
The Provins Medieval City of France was inscribed on the World Heritage List in December 2001. This historic defensive city is an exceptional and true example of a trading town in medieval Champagne, which was a major Centre of exchange in the Middle Ages, especially with the rise of fairs in the 11th century, which initiated widespread global trade in Europe. The exhibition also introduces the Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long – Hà Nội as a cultural heritage site inscribed on the World Heritage List in August 2010. This is the uninterrupted seat of power of Vietnam for more than a thousand years of history and bears a unique testimony to the evolution of the Vietnamese nation in the development history of a monarchy in the Southeast Asia and East Asia regions. These two cultural heritage sites of France and Vietnam are located in the heart of important ancient cities with thousands of years of history. The exhibition also introduces some unique world cultural heritage sites and elements of the two countries with a view to expanding cooperation with other heritage sites across the world in general and France in particular in exchanging experience in heritage conservation, tourism development, and heritage value promotion.
H.E. Mr. Vương Đình Huệ, Member of Politburo and Secretary of Hà Nội Party Committee visiting the exhibition.
The display titled “World Heritage Journey” recounts the whole process of making the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long a shared property of humanity.
Based on the archeological discoveries in 2002-2003 at 18 Hoàng Diệu street, domestic and international scientists carried out further research that helped the city authorities prepare a dossier to nominate Thăng Long Imperial Citadel as a world heritage site.
Mme Ngô Thị Thanh Hằng (Centre), member of the Central Party Committee, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Hà Nội Party Committee (16th Tenure) visiting the display “Heritage Journey”.
Starting from 2006, thanks to the close direction of the Central Party Committee and the Government and the effective coordination of ministries, central agencies, the great determination and efforts of Hà Nội authorities, and particularly the enthusiastic and responsible involvement of domestic and international scientists, the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long – Hà Nội has been listed for protection and ranked as a special national monument before a nomination dossier for inscription of the site by UNESCO on the World Heritage List. The dossier was registered in September 2008 and officially submitted to UNESCO in January 2009, under strict evaluation processes by UNESCO through its advisory body ICOMOS. At 8:30 pm (Brazilian time) on 31 July 2010, or 6:30 am (Vietnamese time) on 1 August 2010, during the 34th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Brasilia voted to adopt a resolution to inscribe the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long – Hà Nội on the World Heritage List, making it the 900th heritage site of humanity.
10 years after the inscription of the site, research, preservation and promotion of the value of Thăng Long Imperial Citadel has further confirmed its position as a world cultural heritage site and one of the most attractive tourist destinations of the capital city. The site has seriously implemented UNESCO’s recommendations for the continuation of full and comprehensive archaeological research. It has also actualized the the Heritage Management Plan professionally and promoted heritage education activities for the young generation and strictly monitored and managed tourism development.
The exhibition introduces 100 images, documents and artifacts, covering 3 main themes: 1. Working with unanimity; 2. Thăng Long Imperial Citadel: assertion and development; 3. Understanding the past, choosing the future.
The exhibition activities are open from 23 November 2020.
Thăng Long – Hà Nội Heritage Conservation Centre
