The People’s Committee of Hanoi approved a suspension of the Van Cao – Ho Tay construction in order to properly collect ancient artifacts.
Hanoi’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism made the request which has now been granted.
Before the road’s construction, archeologists were not consulted (Photo by Vnn)
The People’s Committee of Hanoi also agreed to assign the Urban Traffic Project Management Unit of Hanoi to invite the Department and Vietnam Institute of Archaeology to carry out archeological research, collecting ancient artifacts at the scene as well as inviting archeological experts to assess the value of these ancient artifacts and consult them about solutions, which will be submitted to the city.
According to an official statement by the Department, in April 2006, the Urban Traffic Project Management Unit of Hanoi under the Hanoi Department for Transport and Public Works had approved the project without Hanoi’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Hanoi’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism also said that ancient written artifacts and current researching results revealed Hoang Hoa Tham and Buoi Roads used to be the citadel surrounding Thang Long's imperial city during the Ly dynasty and the Thang Long’s imperial citadel during the Le So dynasty.
“This is also the only remaining citadel which is a very important material source for researching the history of Thang Long (Hanoi),” pointed out an official statement from Hanoi’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The official statement was sent to the People’s Committee of Hanoi by Hanoi’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism after Van Cao – Ho Tay road construction became a matter of concern among scientists and the public.
The Vietnam History Science Association received a lot of feedback from veterans, officials and people living at Thuy Khue Ward, Tay Ho District, Hanoi about building Van Cao – Ho Tay roads crossing over Hoang Hoa Tham dyke that threatens the Thang Long imperial citadel which lies underground.
In late April of 2010, Professor Pham Huy Le, Chairman of the Vietnam History Science Association and Associate Professor Tong Trung Tin, Head of the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology along with several archeological and historical experts inspected the site.
Associate Professor Tong Trung Tin said that there were very deep holes dug right in the middle of Hoang Hoa Tham Road, from which they found many pieces of ancient bricks, pottery and other artifacts from the Ly-Tran-Le dynasties.
He also believed a part of Hoang Hoa Tham road, which was dug up, was a part of Thang Long’s imperial citadel during the Le dynasty.
Hanoi’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism also said that they coordinated with the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology and Urban Traffic Project Management Unit of Hanoi to discuss and decide the locations for archeological research at Dao Tan – Buoi routes crossing over Buoi dyke.