Hanoi halts plan to build millennial time capsule

The capital city will not carry out a planned project to create a time capsule for the upcoming Thang Long-Hanoi millennial celebrations, said Mr. Pham Quang Nghi, Politbureau member and secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee on March 31.

The secretary said that it is not feasible to bury the capsule, which was to contain 1,000 cultural objects, underground.

Organizers could also not agree on which items to include in the capsule or when it should eventually be opened. Originally, the container was to be unearthed in 1,000 years by future generations.

Mr. Nghi said all projects marking the grand celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi must be implemented carefully and thoughtfully.

Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and tourism, Pham Quang Long, also admitted the mistake in organizing a press conference on March 22 to introduce the project which has not been approved by the municipal People’s Committee.

Originally, the Government was to choose 63 items representative of 63 cities and provinces nationwide to be included in the capsule. The remaining objects were to be chosen by the people featuring Vietnamese culture, science and technology as well as reflect the development of contemporary society.

The container was then to be buried underground on an area of 1,000 square meters at the Hanoi Museum in October.