Spending 90 billion VND to implement excavation project
Thanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism coordinated with the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Committee to organize a field trip for reporters from press agencies to the World Heritage Ho Dynasty Citadel (Vinh Loc district).
According to a report from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Thanh Hoa, the Ho Dynasty Citadel was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage in 2011. After 14 years since its recognition, the Ho Dynasty Citadel has become a famous tourist destination in Thanh Hoa province, welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
World Heritage Ho Dynasty Citadel, Vinh Loc district, Thanh Hoa province (Photo: Thanh Tung).
In recent times, in parallel with the management and promotion of the heritage site's value to domestic and international friends, strategic projects on research, excavation and conservation of the Ho Dynasty Citadel heritage have been focused on and effectively implemented by functional sectors.
The project is carried out to gradually study the material cultural vestiges of the Ho Dynasty Citadel through the periods buried underground. From there, promote and enhance the value of the heritage site, provide historical documents for science, education and enhance the potential to attract tourism.
According to the project, the total excavation area at the Ho Dynasty Citadel Heritage Site is 56,000m2. Of which, the archaeological excavation area in the Inner Citadel area is 25,000m2; the moat is 12,000m2; the four gates are 5,000m2; and the Royal Road is 14,000m2. The total investment for the excavation is more than 90 billion VND, divided into two phases 2013-2020 and 2020-2025.
The approval of the comprehensive archaeological excavation of the Ho Dynasty Citadel Heritage demonstrates Thanh Hoa province’s determination in fulfilling its commitments to UNESCO. To date, the progress of the comprehensive archaeological excavation is underway.
Many unique architectural works revealed
According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Thanh Hoa, in more than 10 years of implementing the project, the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province has always focused resources and increased investment to complete the excavation goals according to the set plan.
The province pays special attention to 6 steps in the excavation process such as: preparing the site, means and materials; excavating by manual methods; returning the site; adjusting results, creating records of artifacts; organizing scientific seminars; systematizing results and building scientific reports to divide investment according to the approved roadmap.
At the excavation site, traces of architectural foundations were revealed with many rows of columns and column foundations (Photo: Tran Le).
The results of the overall archaeological excavation at the Nam Giao Tay Do altar in 2012 clarified the architectural foundation of the ancient altar. From there, scientists, cultural managers and the Thanh Hoa provincial government decided to urgently preserve and restore this relic.
Up to now, architectural items such as the Than Dao axis, the King's Well, the Altar foundation... have been relatively well preserved, contributing to turning the Altar area into an attractive tourist destination in the heritage complex.
In addition, the excavation results of the South Gate area and Cai Hoa road (also known as Hoa Nhai road) in 2012 revealed the entire architecture that is still relatively intact, including the slate paved road extending all the way to Don Son mountain (Vinh Loc town).
From this result, the authorities and scientists of Thanh Hoa province have urgently preserved and kept the current state of the excavation pit in the South Gate area to serve the sightseeing needs of local people and tourists.
Panoramic view of the Royal Street area from the Dragon architectural cluster to the South gate (Photo: Institute of Archaeology).
In addition, in 2015-2016, the Ho Dynasty Citadel Heritage Conservation Center coordinated with the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology to excavate the southern and northern moats. The results helped clarify the architectural scale of this area, creating a basis for restoration work in the future.
In 2017, the Center continued to coordinate with the Institute of Archaeology to excavate the Tran Khat Chan temple area (Vinh Thanh commune), collecting scientific data to serve Thanh Hoa province's commitments to UNESCO, including adding Tran Khat Chan temple to the core heritage area.
In 2019-2021, the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province continued to increase investment in archaeological activities at the heritage site. Areas such as the main hall, Dong Thai Mieu, Tay Thai Mieu and Hoang Gia road have begun to reveal large-scale, magnificent architecture. These results create an important scientific and legal basis for heritage conservation work in the coming time.
Ho Dynasty Citadel is a unique ancient stone architectural work in Vietnam.
Ho Dynasty Citadel, also known as Tay Do Citadel, Tay Giai Citadel, An Ton Citadel, located in Vinh Tien and Vinh Long communes (Vinh Loc district, Thanh Hoa province), was built by Ho Quy Ly in the late 14th century and early 15th century. It was the capital of Dai Viet - Tran dynasty (1389-1400) and the capital of Dai Ngu - Ho dynasty (1400-1407).
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/chi-90-ty-dong-khai-quat-thanh-nha-ho-phat-lo-nhieu-cong-trinh-doc-dao-20250513095449455.htm
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