Thanh Hoa (VNA) - Authorities in the central provinceof Thanh Hoa have approved a plan to excavate an ancient citadel with uniquearchitecture in Southeast Asia.
A sum of 4.4 billion VND (192,000 USD) will be spent forexcavation at the northeast wall near the north gate of the Ho Dynasty Citadel, a world cultural heritage recognised by UNESCO located in Vinh Loc district.
The Ho Citadel Conservation Centre will be mainly responsiblefor the excavation and will coordinate with the Vietnam Archaeology Instituteto excavate a total area of 400sq.m.
If scientists find any antiques, they will unearth theobjects to measure and take photos before handing them over to the centre’smuseum for further study.
If they find the foundation of the relic, they will stopexcavation and dig a small hole to examine the structure of the foundation.
Pham Dang Quyen, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’sCommittee, has assigned the duty to the centre.
The Ho Dynasty Citadel in Vinh Loc district was the capitalof Dai Viet State (the old name of Vietnam) under the Tran Dynasty (1389-1400)and the capital of Dai Ngu State under the Ho Dynasty (1400-1407). Thedimensions of the citadel, which was built in 1397, are 870m by 883m.
The complex includes an inner citadel, outer citadel andworship foundation on a total area of 155.6ha.
The entire structure is made of huge stones in a rectangularform, one laid over another without any mortar. The wall measures five to sixmetres in height, with some places reaching up to 10m.
This is the only citadel in the country built entirely ofstone that has remained nearly intact throughout the nation’s history.
According to experts, the structure is an outstanding exampleof a new style of construction for a Southeast Asian imperial city.
The citadel was recognised as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2011.
Last year, more than 50 large stones spread across 20m fellfrom the north wall in a huge storm. The wall measures 6.9m in length and fourmetres in height. The amount of stones that fell on the ground is estimated tobe 20cu.m.-VNA
The archeological excavation in the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty will be expanded to the defending canal area in the northern part, according to the Ho Citadel Heritage Conservation Centre.
An exhibition on archeological excavations at the Ho Dynasty Citadel in the past five years opened in the central province of Thanh Hoa on December 15.
The Ho Dynasty Citadel was Vietnam’s capital under the Ho Dynasty (1398-1407). Located in Vinh Loc district, it is the only citadel in Vietnam built entirely of stones and remained nearly intact.
The Ho Dynasty Citadel, a World Cultural Heritage Site site in the central province of Thanh Hoa, will offer free entrance to both domestic and foreign tourists during February 15 – 17.
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The gate of the Ho Dynasty Citadel (Photo: VNA) 
