I. Some famous historical and cultural heritages of Hanoi.

Only in 3 years, Hanoi capital and the whole country will organize the 1000th founding anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi. In the capitals of 200 countries in over the world, not many countries have 1000th historical cultural heritage like our Hanoi capital.

Hanoi Capital has special historical and cultural heritage for a long time, creating an age-old culture of the capital city, crystallizing historical and cultural values of the nation. The center within the city today has a historical monument well known both at home country and in the world, that's special historical monument called Guom Lake. The story is that when the Le King raised an army for a war against Minh troops, at Lam Son revolutionary base (Thanh Hoa), he found out a sword. That weapon followed him during 10 years-long-march and finally he expelled the invaders and seizing the independence, then he was crowned and set up the capital in Hanoi that called Thang Long at that time. One day, the King took a walk a long Luc Thuy lake, suddenly, a golden tortoise raised to the surface, immediately the King unsheathed the sword and pointed his finger at the tortoise, the tortoise kept in its mount at once and submerged. It's believed that the God lent the tortoise in order to eliminate the bandits, so when the bandits was dispersed, the tortoise must be refunded to the God, the golden tortoise was an angel so the King changed the name of that lake and called Guom Lake or Hoan Kien Lake. That legend has a strong attachment with aspiration and will for the peace of Vietnam nation. When the invaders came, the whole nation revolted to fight, and when the invaders were eliminated, the people continued to work and build the country for a long time peace. Hoan Kiem Lake today is also called Guom Lake - it's a clear proof for a love for peace of Vietnam nation.

Vietnam nation for a long time of building and defending the country, has turned up many kings leading the people in fighting and building the country and fighting the aggressors. In order to recognize great services of the King who sacrificed for the nation, Hanoi has statues of some King, but there was a King who established Thang Long capital 10 centuries ago (in the year 1010) and his status was erected in October 2004. That's the King Ly Thai To (Ly Cong Uan) and the status was erected in a park with the similar name. This park has been located in the East of Guom Lake since 1884. Because the French colonialist set up there, the status Pon Be, the first head residence passed away in Hanoi in 1886 so the park was changed its name into Pon Be park. After the coup of Japan in March 1945, the park was changed into Linh Chi park. In 1984, in order to close the friendship between Vietnamese people and Indian people, the park was changed into India Gangdi park, the name of a premier woman of India who had been murdered that time. After 20 following years, the status of the King Ly Thai To was placed here so once more time the park was changed into Ly Thai To park.

In many countries in all over the world, many leaders who are not only honored by the nation but also are respected by a lot of world organization. Particularly in Vietnam, the leader who is respected by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is Ho Chi Minh, the world cultural celebrity. On 2 September 1969, after departing this world, the Party, State and people deeply regretted the beloved leader and in accordance with the people's aspiration of the whole nation, our Party committee decided to build a mausoleum in order to preserve and take care of his corpse, thus the Vietnamese generations have chance to visit and their respect to the beloved father of the nation. That commemorated work is Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi.

On 17 June 1999, Hanoi was awarded "The City of Peace" prize by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This is a prize of UNESCO approving once in two years and awarded to five typical cities in five areas in the world. In 1999, the Asia - Pacific area chose and awarded to Hanoi, the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam the title prize "The City of Peace" and to be considered the developing city with all the norms required by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). That prize was announced and awarded the symbol of the City of Peace for the Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee on 17 July 1999 in La Paz city, the capital of Bolivia.

There are some European architectural works in Hanoi which were built in the early 20th century. In which, there is opera-house today, or called City's opera. After the August Revolution 1945, the Opera-house get great honor and to be selected place for the First National Assembly held two first sessions in 1946. We also have to mention the Square in front of the Opera-house, it's named August Revolution Square and this was the starting place of the city administration task, opening for a general uprising in all over the country. On 17 August 1945, the cadres of Viet Minh Front with the people's assistance defeated the meeting of Japanese civil service federation, and moved to a march of the revolution people. In the morning, 19 August 1945, the committee held a big meeting to concentrate the people in inner city and regional areas to declare rising up in arms and supported by the people to occupy envoy residence, City hall, Bao An army camp...opening an independent historical page for Hanoi.

Beside some typical architectural works such as Friendship Cultural Palace, International Conference Center in No. 11 Le Hong Phong that were built for a long time. Recently we have built National Conference Center in My Dinh, Tu Liem district. This center was started execution on 15 November 2004 and completed on 25 November 2005. The center has area of sixty thousand square meters; the height of 3 floors is 50 meters. The central building is a voluminous and modern architecture from the landscape to the infrastructure. The roof is designed under the model of curving to symbolize for the wave of East Ocean to bring Vietnam to integrate fully with the world. The main hall has 3727 seats. The senior hall has more than 600 seats. The festival hall is 21000-square meters-width, having special hall for chief of state and 20 small rooms. The Press area is demonstrator place of more than 15000 reporters. Besides, there are restaurants, bars, hotels with 11000 square meters serving full of delegation. The 14th Summit conference - APEC was held here from 12th - 19th April 2006.

II. Value preservation and development of historical and culture heritages.

Hanoi is the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which is the center for political, economic and cultural development, the door for international exchanges and containing a profound cultural heritage. Those cultural values play an important roll in building and developing the capital. Because it's closed to the people so it's the internal force of strong development and the basis creating special characters of Hanoi that cannot be found anywhere. In the renovation and integration period, Hanoi is being widened and implementing industrialization and modernization process but we are always aware of our responsibility for keeping special characters of Hanoi city, Hanoi must be developed in modern and traditional combination.

The Celebration of the 1000th founding anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi will be held in a civilized, beautiful and modern Hanoi, there the pride of cultural and heroic traditions of the capital is not only described in the historical books but also it's necessary to be presented with us and the future generations with many historical and cultural works that need to be preserved, those express the vitality and characters of the capital with thousand years-cultural value of the whole nation.

In order to obtain this, we have to implement more specific works such as: propagandizing for people to understand the value of historical and cultural heritages like original, architecture, belief, spirit…so they self-aware of protecting these heritages. Making detail record of these heritages and publish to propagandize widely to the people aware of protecting and developing these heritage’s value, concurrently keeping traditional beauty and improving the historical monuments in conformity with natural landscape as well as environment of Hanoi. Especially, up holding the historical values to the domestic and international visitors for respond and assistance of organizations in developing and using effectively these heritages.