Millennial anniversary raises Hanoi’s prestige

The successful organization of the millennial anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi has contributed to raising the capital city’s position and prestige for the whole country’s people as well as among international friends.

The remarks were made at a meeting to review the millennial celebrations held in Hanoi on Nov. 9 by the municipal Party Committee, People’s Committee, People’s Council and Fatherland Front.

Addressing the meeting, Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi said the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi was successfully organized.

The traditional values of the capital city over the past 1,000 years of development were honoured, with UNESCO’s resolution on celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and the recognition of 82 doctoral steles in the Temple of Literature as a world literary heritage, the People’s Committee said, adding that UNESCO Director General attended the opening ceremony of the millennium anniversary and handed over a certificate to recognise the Thang Long-Hanoi ancient citadel’s central area as a world cultural heritage site.

Hanoi has set up friendly and cooperative ties with more than 60 cities of about 50 nations and territories around the world. It was recognised as the city of peace.

The patriotism, national pride, the trust in the Party and regime in all walks of life were shown in the participation of over three million people in the Thang Long-Hanoi contest, 700 works of more than 100 press agencies in the millennial anniversary press prize as well as 400 cultural and art works on the celebrations.

During the 10-day festival, thousands of people nationwide and Overseas Vietnamese flocked to the city for celebrations, including Party and State leaders, representatives from ministries, departments, organisations and 62 provinces and cities, 1,000 Vietnamese heroic mothers and heroes, 31 delegations from 30 foreign cities and 22 international delegations, 91 ambassadors and chief representatives from diplomatic missions and international organisations in Hanoi.

More than 1,200 local and foreign reporters were in Hanoi to cover the anniversary.

Besides, hundreds of precious gifts were presented to the capital city, hundreds of projects were inaugurated, and a series of festivals, contests, cultural and art performances was also held in Hanoi and other provinces to celebrate the anniversary./.

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Biggest-ever parade marks Hanoi’s millennium

A grand meeting and biggest-ever parade was held at Ba Dinh Square on October 10 to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The meeting was attended by Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, State President Nguyen Minh Triet, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Huynh Dam, and Secretary of the Hanoi municipal Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi along with former senior State and Party leaders.

Ambassadors, representatives from international organisations in Vietnam, centrally-run ministries, sectors and media agencies plus heroic mothers, revolutionary veterans, armed forces and labour heroes, and almost 40,000 people and soldiers representing millions of others in and outside the country also joined the event.

The celebration honoured the armed forces and highlighted the tremendous achievements Hanoi and the country have recorded during 1,000 years of history, national construction and development, and during the Doi Moi (Renewal) process in which Hanoi has been honoured as a capital city of peace and friendship.

To begin the celebration, a torch was lit at Hanoi’s Millennial Anniversary cauldron. The torch symbolises eternal vitality of the Vietnamese nation and the flame of Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts which has lit the revolutionary path towards the goal of a prosperous people living in a powerful country with a just, democratic and civilised society.

Party and State leaders, along with the delegates, saluted the national flag while the military band played the national anthem and 21 canons fired a salvo.

In his speech, President Triet extended his best wishes and sincere thanks to people across the country, overseas Vietnamese and international friends for their special sentiments towards Hanoi on its 1000th grand anniversary.

1,000 years ago, in the autumn of 1010, King Ly Thai To issued the royal edict to transfer the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long, opening up a glorious period of development for the capital.

From that historic milestone to the Ho Chi Minh era, over 1,000 years of ups and downs, Thang Long-Hanoi has maintained its assured posture and indomitable spirit, deserving to be the heart of the whole country, he said.

“The 1000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi gave us a chance to highlight the noble traditional values and priceless heritage of our ancestors and express our deep gratitude to those who founded the country as well as President Ho Chi Minh, revolutionary veterans, and heroic martyrs who laid down their lives for national independence and freedom,” Triet said.

“We are responsible for preserving and upholding the ancestors’ traditions and raising them to a new level in the Ho Chi Minh era,” he further said.

President Triet called on the whole population to unite and use energy, brain power and talent to build Hanoi into a civilised, modern and beautiful capital capable of keeping pace with other cities in the world.

Following President Triet’s speech, there was a grand parade with ten helicopters flying above carrying the Party and National flags and banners saying “The 1000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi”.

The parade, the biggest of its kind, attracted the participation of representatives from different groups, including the army, war veterans, the youth, workers, farmers, intellectuals, State employees, entrepreneurs, religions, women and overseas Vietnamese.

The celebration concluded with art performance by 2,000 artists and actresses and with release of balloons and doves into the sky above historic Ba Dinh square./.

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Palace inauguration marks Hanoi’s birthday

Photo: VNA

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi unveiled a plate entitled “Project in celebration of Thang Long-Hanoi millennium anniversary” on the wall of the intellectuals’ palace in Hanoi on Monday.

Located on an area of 6,668 square meters in Cau Giay district, the palace includes two buildings, one of three stories and one of 15 stories.

Inaugurating the palace contributes to solving a shortage of headquarters for research institutes and associations and facilitates intellectuals and artists to make more contributions to the capital city’s development, said Phi Thai Binh, Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee.

Also, as part of celebrations of the Thang Long-Hanoi millennium, an exhibition of more than 250 calligraphic paintings opened at the Temple of Literature, honoring the long-lasting culture and talent of Thang Long-Hanoi people.

Nearly 50 nationwide calligraphers aging from 25-90 showed their works in various ways and on different materials such as paper, wood, bronze, ceramics and even flowers.

The works focus on Thang Long-Hanoi, education and landscapes of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Along with the exhibition, a calligraphy festival presents visitors with calligraphy writing performances and extracts of historians’ stories.

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Palace inauguration marks city’s birthday

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi unveiled a plate entitled, “Project in celebration of Thang Long-Hanoi millennium anniversary” on the wall of the intellectuals’ palace in Hanoi on October 4.

Located on an area of 6,668 sq.m. in Cau Giay district, the palace includes two buildings, one of three stories and one of 15 stories.

Inaugurating the palace contributes to solving a shortage of headquarters for research institutes and associations and facilitates intellectuals and artists to make more contributions to the capital city’s development, said Phi Thai Binh, Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee.

Also, as part of celebrations of the Thang Long-Hanoi millennium, an exhibition of more than 250 calligraphic paintings opened at the Temple of Literature , honouring the long-lasting culture and talent of Thang Long-Hanoi people.

Nearly 50 nationwide calligraphers aging from 25-90 showed their works in various ways and on different materials such as paper, wood, bronze, ceramics and even flowers.

The works focus on Thang Long-Hanoi, education and landscapes of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Along with the exhibition, a calligraphy festival presents visitors with calligraphy writing performances and extracts of historians’ stories./.

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Thang Long Boulevard project open for traffic

HA NOI — Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday announced the completion of a five-year project to expand the Lang-Hoa Lac Expressway.

The highway has been renamed Thang Long Boulevard.

"The modernised boulevard has a crucial meaning to the socio-economic development of not only the capital and its surrounding cities, but also the north-west of the country," Manh said.

The boulevard, just shy of 30km, was one of the projects implemented to celebrate Thang Long-Ha Noi's millennium and is now the longest boulevard in the country. It starts at the intersection of Lang-Hoa Lac road and Belt Road III, and ends at the intersection between Lang-Hoa Lac Road, National Highway No 21 and Ho Chi Minh Road.

Thang Long Boulevard, which is 140-170 metres wide, has 6 express lanes and two additional lanes for motorcycles and bicycles.

Project costs reached VND8 trillion (US$410 million).

The boulevard will connect Ha Noi with satellite cities including Xuan Mai, Mieu Mon and Son Tay, and tourist sites such as Viet Nam Ethnic Villages, Ba Vi Mount and Hai Stream. It is also an important foundation for the development of nearby Lang-Hoa Lac high-tech zone.

The boulevard, which is the first in the country to be designed and built by Vietnamese architects and construction companies, will also play an important role in the expansion of Ha Noi to the west and southwest. — VNS

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Nation’s longest avenue opens to traffic

Photo: Tuoi Tre

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Saturday gave an order to open to traffic Thang Long Avenue - the country’s longest avenue, which is strategically significant to development in Hanoi’s western part.

Speaking at the event, Dung stressed that this new and modern transport road is very important for the capital city’s all-sided development.

He hailed the Ministry of Transport and the municipal authorities and constructors for completing the avenue at a time when Hanoi is celebrating its 1,000th birthday anniversary.

The PM asked the municipal authorities to organize a competent management mechanism to maximize the avenue’s operation.

Thang Long is the first urban expressway that has been designed and built entirely by local experts and contractors. After five years of construction, it has the length of 30 km and the width of 140m for six lanes of vehicles. It cost over VND7.5 trillion (US$385 million).

The avenue connects Hanoi’s inner part with satellite urban areas, such as Xuan Mai, Mieu Mon, and Son Tay, and tourist sites, including Ba Vi, Suoi Hai, and the Vietnam Ethnic Cultural Village. With its one end at Ho Chi Minh National Highway, it also links Hanoi with other localities.

In particular, Thang Long Avenue is expected to facilitate the development of the Lang-Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park, which is one of the country’s largest scientific and technological centers.

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Nation’s longest avenue opens to traffic

Photo: Tuoi Tre

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Saturday gave an order to open to traffic Thang Long Avenue - the country’s longest avenue, which is strategically significant to development in Hanoi’s western part.

Speaking at the event, Dung stressed that this new and modern transport road is very important for the capital city’s all-sided development.

He hailed the Ministry of Transport and the municipal authorities and constructors for completing the avenue at a time when Hanoi is celebrating its 1,000th birthday anniversary.

The PM asked the municipal authorities to organize a competent management mechanism to maximize the avenue’s operation.

Thang Long is the first urban expressway that has been designed and built entirely by local experts and contractors. After five years of construction, it has the length of 30 km and the width of 140m for six lanes of vehicles. It cost over VND7.5 trillion (US$385 million).

The avenue connects Hanoi’s inner part with satellite urban areas, such as Xuan Mai, Mieu Mon, and Son Tay, and tourist sites, including Ba Vi, Suoi Hai, and the Vietnam Ethnic Cultural Village. With its one end at Ho Chi Minh National Highway, it also links Hanoi with other localities.

In particular, Thang Long Avenue is expected to facilitate the development of the Lang-Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park, which is one of the country’s largest scientific and technological centers.

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Nation’s longest avenue opens to traffic

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Oct. 3 gave an order to open to traffic Thang Long Avenue - the country’s longest avenue, which is strategically significant to development in Hanoi ’s western part.

Speaking at the event, PM Dung stressed that this new and modern transport road is very important for the capital city’s all-sided development.

He hailed the Ministry of Transport and the municipal authorities and constructors for completing the avenue at a time when Hanoi is celebrating its 1,000 th birth anniversary.

The PM asked the municipal authorities to organise a competent management mechanism to maximise the avenue’s operation.

Thang Long is the first urban expressway that has been designed and built entirely by local experts and contractors. After five years of construction, it has the length of 30 km and the width of 140m for six lanes of vehicles. It cost over 7.5 trillion VND.

The avenue connects Hanoi ’s inner part with satellite urban areas, such as Xuan Mai, Mieu Mon, and Son Tay, and tourist sites, including Ba Vi, Suoi Hai, and the Vietnam Ethnic Cultural Village . With its one end at Ho Chi Minh National Highway , it also links Hanoi with other localities.

In particular, Thang Long Avenue is expected to facilitate the development of the Lang-Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park, which is one of the country’s largest scientific and technological centres./.

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Thang Long-Hanoi’s millennium celebration opens

A solemn ceremony was held at the Ly Thai To Flower Garden in the morning of October 1 to kick off 10 days of celebrations for the Millennium of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Opening the ceremony, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong, together with Party, State and Hanoi municipal leaders offered incense before the Statue of King Ly Thai To, who had a strategic and sound decision to remove the country’s capital city from Hoa Lu in the northern province of Ninh Binh to Dai La (now Hanoi), opening up a long-term development direction for following generations.

Addressing the event, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi stressed that the historical transfer of the capital from Hoa Lu surrounded by one mountain after another to the centre of the Red River Delta formed an extraordinary step forward for the nation, reaffirming the will to build the national independence and unification and ushering in a new era for the Dai Viet. Thang Long-Hanoi’s thousand-year history has been constantly cultivated by heroic exploits.

“Generations of Vietnamese living in the Ho Chi Minh era, owners of our majestic land and an independent and free country, will surely advance without any misgivings to the future, a future of more beautiful Vietnam so much desired by President Ho Chi Minh,” he said.

At the ceremony, General Director of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Irina Bokova presented a certificate recognising the Thang Long Royal Citadel as a World Cultural Heritage to the Hanoi leaders.

While showing her admiration at Vietnam , one of the few countries in the world that still preserves lively memories of the capital transfer 1,000 years ago, Irina Bokova also recommended that Vietnam should take responsibility for the humankind through promoting the heritage to future generations.

The jubilant atmosphere of the grand celebrations has been seen in each street, each lane and each face of the capital. All roads leading to the Ly Thai To Flower Garden, where the opening ceremony took place, are decorated by flags, banners and flowers. Hanoi is putting on itself a new colourful dress to celebrate its 1,000 th birthday.

Jeanne Huynh, an overseas Vietnamese in France , couldn’t hide her feeling when returning to the homeland to attend the great event of the capital and the country. She said she was proud of being a Vietnamese.

Vietnam’s successful hosting of many international events and the recognition of the Thang Long Royal Citadel as a World Culture Heritage have proven the country’s increasingly improved position, she said.

Jeanne Huynh also expressed her belief that in the next 10-15 years, Vietnam can stand on a par with developed countries in the world.

For the UK Ambassador to Vietnam , Mark Kent, the 1,000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi is an event of special significance for him as he is going to end his three-year term of office in Hanoi .

Mark Kent said he was honoured to live and work in the 1,000-year-old city of Hanoi . He added that he will join a number of activities during the anniversary, including a race for peace around Hoan Kiem Lake on October 3.

The millennium celebrations of Thang Long-Hanoi will be held within ten days with numerous artistic and cultural activities throughout the capital city.

Highlights of the celebrations will be a meeting and a parade at the Ba Dinh Square as well as a cultural and art gala night at the My Dinh National Stadium on October 10./.

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Ancient Citadel to open to visitors on Hanoi’s anniversary

The Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the world-recognised heritage site, will open to visitors in time for Hanoi ’s 1,000 th anniversary, according to the Hanoi People’s Committee.

On Sept. 16, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung paid a visit to the site to check the arrangement of artifacts found at the 18 Hoang Dieu street, the archaeological excavation area for the planned exhibition.

The cleanup at relic site of the Thang Long citadel is also expected to finish by September 20.

The same day, a pair of ceramic dragons and an ornamental jar, which are largest ones in Vietnam , were inaugurated to celebrate the 1,000 anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The steel-framed dragons are modelled after the prominent style in the Ly Dynasty. Each is 30m long and decorated with 10,000 plates, cups and bowls.

The works, made by artists of Hanoi ’s Bat Trang traditional craft village, will be displayed at the Bach Thao (botanical) Garden during the celebration.

Also on September 16, the country’s largest drum made by Doi Tam village, Doi Son commune, Duy Tien district, Ha Nam province, was brought to Hanoi to be used during the ceremony to celebrate the 1,000 anniversary of the capital city.

The drum has a diametre of 2.35m, a height of 3m and a weight of 1,300kg. It was made by Pham Chi Khang family./.

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New opera house to mark birthday

One of the two architectural options for the Thang Long Opera House which will be open for public consultation. The final decision will be made by the city leaders during the public showing. — VNS File Photo

HA NOI — Viet Nam's most modern opera house will start construction on October 7 to celebrate the capital's 1,000th anniversary.

Prior to that, a week-long exhibition displaying two architectural options for the proposed Thang Long Opera House will be open for public consultation from next Wednesday, Ha Noi People's Committee chairman Nguyen The Thao decided on Tuesday.

The blueprints have been produced by British architects Norman Foster & Partners and the Italian Renzo Piano Building Workshop.

The final decision will be made by the city leaders, during the public showing.

However, the seven-member selection board, chaired by Prof Christine Hawley, head of the Faculty of the Built Environment at the University College London, earlier voted for the Italian consultant's design.

Other board members include renowned Vietnamese and international experts – Viet Nam Architect Association chairman Nguyen Tan Van, Canadian professor Merrill Elam, Spanish professor Salvador Perez Aroyo, the Construction Ministry's Architecture and Planning Department director Phan My Linh, Ha Noi Planning Institute director La Thi Kim Ngan and Ha Noi Planning and Architecture Department director Nguyen Van Hai.

Renzo Piano is inspired by a red sail brightening the dark sky of Ha Long Bay, claim the Viet Nam Urban Planning and Development Association.

In the blueprint, the Thang Long Opera House would be highlighted as a precious pearl kept within a crystal box. The complex includes the opera house, outdoor stage and parking area, which are all elevated, allowing space for water, trees and park and a small road.

The opera house with maximum height of up to 100m will mainly use steel and glass for construction to create an impression of transparency and weightlessness.

An energy saving system will be installed on the roof while glass water pipes covering the opera house are expected to reduce thermo-radiation in summer.

The design submitted by Norman Foster portrays an opera house in the middle of a lotus pond, mimicking the style of Hue imperial architecture. Iconic images, including a bronze drum, traditional communal house roof, dragon scales and turtle shell in traditional colours would be used as decorative details.

Norman Foster and Renzo Piano are the only two consultants that replied to Ha Noi's invitation to take part the design contest.

Thang Long Opera House is expected to cover an area of nearly 22.3ha in West Lake new urban area.

The opera house will be able to accommodate 1,200-1,500 seats for classical performances.

The project will be managed by the Ha Noi People's Committee and invested by the Ha Noi Construction Department.

However, other important information, such as the total budget and construction period, have yet to be made public. —VNS

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Hanoi ready for millennium anniversary in October

A series of important works to dress up and decorate Hanoi is basically complete with just 30 days left until the millennium anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi takes place.

The capital city has to date completed 33 major projects, making Hanoi greener, cleaner and more beautiful, according to Ngo Thi Thanh Hang, Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi Municipal People’s Committee and deputy head of the National Steering Committee on the anniversary.

Prominent among the completed works are the Hanoi Museum, the Saint Giong statue, the Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Ton Duc Thang statues, the Hoa Binh (Peace) park, the Hanoi-Amsterdam Gifted High School , Beltway 3, Thang Long boulevard, the giant embroidered picture entitled “Coi Xua” (Old Origins) and the ceramic road along the Red River.

Besides, following the UNESCO’s recognition of the 82 doctor laureate steles under the Le-Mac dynasties in Van Mieu ( Temple of Literature), the Thang Long Imperial Citadel has been recently recognised as a world cultural heritage by the UNESCO, she said.

"They are invaluable presents on the threshold of the millennium anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi," said Hang.

The 10-day festival will bring together many politicians, cultural activists and scientists around the world as well as foreign visitors and overseas Vietnamese.

A solemn ceremony will open the festival in the morning of October 1 at the Ly Thai To Garden. The festival will include a meeting and a march and parade on October 10 at the Ba Dinh Square .

As many as 38 foreign and 20 local art troupes have to date registered to perform during the festival, Hang said.

Thousands of antiques have been selected for exhibition, helping visitors understand the world cultural heritages in Hanoi, she added.

The city has almost completed works on decorating and lighting streets as well as attractive lighting systems around lakes and stadiums and on bridges spanning the Red River./.

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