Amazed by the architecture of the largest remaining stone citadel in Southeast Asia

The Ho Dynasty Citadel is considered the only remaining stone citadel in Southeast Asia and one of the very few remaining in the world . In 2011, the Ho Dynasty Citadel was recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage.

More than 600 years ago, this huge, majestic stone citadel was built in just 3 months.

The Ho Dynasty Citadel was built by Ho Quy Ly - then Prime Minister under the Tran Dynasty - in 1397. This was the capital of Vietnam from 1398 to 1407.

The Ho Dynasty Citadel is a groundbreaking phenomenon in terms of techniques for mining, crafting and constructing a large structure with large stone blocks as the basic material. Although it is not the only structure in the country and the region with stone architecture, the Ho Dynasty Citadel is still an “unprecedented” demonstration of a different and unique construction technique.

Thanks to unique construction techniques, using sustainable materials, especially large stone blocks, the Ho Dynasty Citadel is very well preserved in the almost intact natural landscape.

This is one of the few citadel relics that has not been affected much by the urbanization process, and the landscape and architectural scale are still preserved almost intact both above ground and underground in East Asia and Southeast Asia.

In the world heritage profile, Ho Dynasty Citadel is described as a magnificent work due to its large stone construction techniques and art and the combination of unique construction traditions in Vietnam, East Asia and Southeast Asia during the late 14th and early 15th centuries.

The entire wall and four main gates were built of blue limestone slabs, meticulously chiseled, square, and stacked tightly together without the need for adhesives.

The stone slabs are on average 1.5m long, some up to 6m long, and weigh an estimated 24 tons. The total volume of stone used to build the citadel is about 20,000m3 and nearly 100,000m3 of soil was carefully dug and built.

The stone wall has a circumference of more than 3.5 km and is formed from stacked stone blocks.

Visiting the Ho Dynasty Citadel, visitors cannot help but be surprised to witness the giant stone blocks firmly linked together without the need for adhesives.

In 2023, the World Cultural Heritage Citadel of Ho Dynasty will welcome about 250,000 visitors, including nearly 2,000 international visitors.

According to ancient documents and books, along with archaeological research and current status research, the Ho Dynasty Citadel heritage complex, in addition to the Inner Citadel, the Moat Citadel, and the La Thanh, also has the Nam Giao Altar.

Ho Dynasty Citadel is located in the communes of Vinh Tien, Vinh Long, Vinh Quang, Vinh Yen , Vinh Phuc, Vinh Ninh, Vinh Khang, Vinh Thanh and Vinh Loc town (Vinh Loc district), Thanh Hoa province.

Today, the Ho Dynasty Citadel has become a historical witness and its intrinsic values have naturally reached world "level" when it officially entered its name into the "temple" of human cultural heritage.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/ngo-ngang-voi-kien-truc-toa-thanh-da-lon-nhat-con-lai-o-dong-nam-a.html