Ho Citadel Named as World Heritage

At the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held by UNESCO in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty was reaffirmed as one of Vietnam's notable World Heritage Sites. Constructed in 1397 by Ho Quy Ly, the Citadel served as the capital of the Ho Dynasty, known as Tay Do (Western Capital), to differentiate it from Dong Do (Eastern Capital), which is present-day Hanoi. Following its construction, Ho Quy Ly relocated the capital from Thang Long to Tay Do; however, the Ho Dynasty was short-lived, existing only from 1400 to 1407.

The Citadel is the only unique stone citadel in Vietnam, featuring stone walls that encompass all four sides with nearly 100,000 m³ of materials utilized in its structure. It was designated as a national heritage site in 1962, and the submission for its recognition as a World Heritage Site was initiated in 2006.

As of January 2025, Vietnam boasts a total of seven cultural World Heritage Sites, including the Ancient Town of Hoi An, the Imperial City of Hue, My Son Sanctuary, and the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Hanoi. In addition to these, Vietnam is home to two natural World Heritage Sites: Halong Bay and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.