Thanh Hoa provincial officials received the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage certificate at a ceremony on Saturday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Tung   Visitors pass through the north gate of the Ho Dynasty Citadel. The citadel has received a designation on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list. — VNA/VNS Photo Anh Tuan

THANH HOA — The Ho Dynasty Citadel in central Thanh Hoa province received its UNESCO World Cultural Heritage certificate at a ceremony on Saturday, after being recognised last June.

The Ho Dynasty Citadel was Viet Nam's capital under the Ho Dynasty (1400-1407). Located in Vinh Tien and Vinh Long communes in Vinh Loc District, it measures 870m by 883m and was built in only three months, between January and March of 1937. It is the only one in Viet Nam built entirely of stone and has remained almost intact through the ups and downs of history.

Also known as the Tay Do, An Ton, Tay Kinh or Tay Giao citadel, it was strategically located where it could be easily defended. It is protected by a mountain range to the north, the Ma River to its west and the Buoi River to its south, creating a huge natural moat.

At the ceremony, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said the global recognition of the citadel required that its cultural values be conserved and promoted in line with the nation's Heritage Law and the UN Convention.

The certificate was presented to representatives of the Viet Nam National Commission for UNESCO and Thanh Hoa province authorities by UNESCO assistant director-general for external relations and public information Eric Falt.

The ceremony was attended by senior Party and State officials and representatives of the diplomatic corps and foreign organisations.

To mark the occasion, the provincial Party's Committee launched a range of activities including an ethnic cultural festival, a photo contest and an exhibition of documents and artefacts relating to the Ho Dynasty Citadel.

Special tours of the citadel were also organised for visitors.

On the same day, up to 80 representatives from UNESCO member states and national commissions in the Asia-Pacific region, met in the province.

Falt told participants the meeting was important because the Asia-Pacific region accounted for over 60 per cent of the world population.

It aimed to collect ideas on what UNESCO should do, he said, adding that UNESCO needed to closely co-operate with its member countries in the Asia-Pacific region in addressing global challenges.

Falt said that despite many difficulties, UNESCO was loyal to its tasks to build peace, reduce poverty and facilitate sustainable development and dialogue among cultures.

The meeting is held once every two years in five continents to collect ideas from 198 national committees. — VNS