Thăng Long Imperial Citadel Artifact Exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City

HCMC 28 September 2015 – Hanoi party committee and people’s committe worked with their Ho Chi Minh City counterparts to handover the artifacts and inaugurate an exhibition titled “A collection of artifacts from Thăng Long Imperial Citadel” at the municipal museum of Hồ Chí Minh City.

This is the second time the objects unearthed in the Thăng Long world heritage site have been introduced to the general public in the city named after President Ho Chi Minh. Featuring 638 objects and various scientific documents, this collection briefly reconstructs the history of Thăng Long – Hà Nội and links the history of Thăng Long Imperial Citadel to the history of the whole nation. It also vividly depicts the quintessence of the royal culture of Thăng Long through valuable artifacts.

The exhibition was also organized to fulfill the expectations of the public and party members in Ho Chi Minh. The handover of the “collection of artifacts from Thăng Long Imperial Citadel” is expected to strengthen the close relationship between the two cities while demonstrating Hanoi’s responsibilities towards the history of the nation. This event also helps bring the heritage sites and elements all over the country together and contributes to a higher sense of national solidarity among the people and the sustainable development of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The party committee and the people of Ho Chi Minh City were happy to receive this collection, which they hope to boost their understanding and pride in the thousand-year-old history of the country thanks to the kind support from Hanoi.

To prepare for the exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City, the Thăng Long – Hà Nội Heritage Conservation Centre wasted no time in conducting in-depth research to formulate an outline for the exhibition content as well as choosing original artifacts to be restored for display. The Centre also went extra length in eliciting the technical assistance from renowned scholars like Prof. Phan Huy Lê correspondant étranger de l’Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres and Chairman of Vietnam Association of Historical Science, Prof. Lưu Trần Tiêu – Chairman of the National Council on Cultural Heritage, Assoc.Prof. Tống Trung Tín – Chairman of Vietnam Association of Archaeology, among others.

The design and fashioning of the exhibition were also given special attention in order to meet aesthetic requirements and follow the modern exhibiting practices adopted by international museums.

Besides, the Thăng Long-Hà Nội Heritage Conservation Centre also provided training on preservation procedures and heritage interpretation for their colleagues at the Ho Chi Minh City municipal museum so that they can preserve the collection and serve the sightseeing public in the coming time.

After the handover and inauguration ceremony, the collection of artifacts from Thăng Long Imperial Citadel is open for long-term exhibition at Ho Chi Minh City municipal museum to serve the visitors, Vietnamese and foreign alike.

Some photos of the handover and inauguration ceremony of the collection of artifacts from Thăng Long Imperial Citadel at Ho Chi Minh City municipal museum.

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The signing ceremony and handover of the exhibits

The ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the exhibition

The leadership of the two cities joined by officers from Thăng Long – Hà Nội Heritage Conservation Centre

Participants at the ceremony listening to interpretation of the exhibits

Participants at the ceremony exploring the exhibits 

Schoolchildren enjoying the experience at the exhibition

 
Training for professional guides at Ho Chi Minh City municipal museums

Inventory and handover of the exhibits to the museum staff and officers

Text by: Kim Yến
Photo by: Phùng Văn Quỳnh