US helps Hà Nội preserve ancient city-gate
VGP - US Ambassador to Việt Nam Michael Michalak on Wednesday announced a fund of US $74,500 for the restoration of Quan Chưởng City-gate, the only ancient gate remaining in Hà Nội.
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Quan Chưởng City-gate is the only ancient one seen in Hà Nội now |
The project, funded via the US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, is part of commemorative activities towards the capital city’s millennium in 2010.
Part of the ancient imperial citadel of Thăng Long, Quan Chưởng Gate was built in 1749 under the Lê Dynasty.
While other 15 city-gates have been destroyed, the seriously degraded Quan Chưởng still stands as a hallmark of the ancient citadel.
It also symbolizes Hanoians’ indomitability and resilience because a sentry captain (quan chưởng) and all his men who protected this gate gave up their life here in a French-launched assault on Hà Nội in the 19th century.
With the fund, Vietnamese preservation experts will work for some months to repair the gate’s damaged parts and reinforce its foundation.
The US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, formed by the US Department of State in 2001, has financed over 500 cultural preservation projects in the world, including nine projects in Việt Nam.
By Ngọc Vân
