The distinguished guests walked through the Doan Mon gate (main gate) to visit the archaeological excavation site and stairways railed with stone dragons at the Kinh Thien Palace, which preserve numerous historical traces of the imperial citadel across different eras.
    |
 |
|
The distinguished guests tour the Thang Long Imperial Citadel on April 1. |
The delegation also visited the Thang Long Imperial Palace’s treasures exhibition hall, which displays nationally recognized treasures, including precious metals and high-quality ceramics manufactured by the royal Thang Long kilns for emperors, empresses, royalty, and imperial court functions.
Representatives of the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre guided President Luong Cuong, his spouse and the Belgian royal couple through Vietnam's thousand-year history via preserved artifacts at the Imperial Citadel, a site that profoundly embodies the historical significance of the millennia-old capital. The ancient architectural structures, architectural remnants, and archaeological artifacts represent an invaluable source of pride for Thang Long - Hanoi specifically and Vietnam as a whole.
The distinguished guests also got detailed explanation about the Kinh Thien Palace, once the most important structure in the ancient Thang Long forbidden city, where the court conducted its most solemn ceremonies, received foreign envoys, and deliberated crucial state issues.
The Belgian King and Queen expressed their impression of the profound cultural and historical value of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, underscoring the significance of preserving and promoting each nation’s cultural heritage.
|
|
 |
|
State President Luong Cuong and his spouse Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet, together with King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium are guided through Vietnam's thousand-year history via preserved artifacts at the Imperial Citadel. |
The tour aimed to introduce the Belgian royal couple to Vietnam's beautiful history, culture, and hospitable people, thus fostering people-to-people exchanges and establishing foundations for expanded cooperation between the two nations across various domains.
The Thang Long Imperial Citadel is an important surviving portion of the Forbidden City and Imperial Citadel of the historic Thang Long capital. This massive architectural marvel, constructed by Vietnamese kings across multiple historical periods, stands as one of the most important monuments in Vietnam's heritage system. UNESCO recognized the Thang Long Imperial Citadel as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 2010, symbolizing the centuries-long cultural and historical legacy of Dai Viet. The site served as the power center for Vietnamese kings through the Ly, Tran, Early Le, Mac, and Le Trung Hung (The Later Le) dynasties.
Source: VNA