“Co Loa: from core values to preservation and promotion” was the subject of the seminar recently held by Tia Sang journal. Attending the seminar were scientists, historians, architects, and other delegates.
Multiple perspectives were given at the seminar by scientists and specialists regarding the assessment of the level of preservation of both the ground and underground sections of Co Loa and its three walls and relevant relics; the status of heritage management in Co Loa; the level of UNESCO’s interest in Co Loa; the digitization of heritage data using 3D as a temporary solution for storing heritage data the like of Co Loa’s; the vision for relic management; international experiences in building Heritage Cities; as well as other topics.
According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Huy, vice director of the Center of Preservation and Promotion of Heritage Values, Co Loa was a one-of-a-kind 2300 year-old historical relic site and also a Special National Relic Site; visitors, however, usually only visited Co Loa during the Tet holiday when the Co Loa festival took place; during the remaining 11 months, there were only a few tens to several hundreds thoudsand of visitors; visitors to Co Loa mainly paid respect at the Co Loa Temple and Ngu Trieu Di Quy Hall without visiting the three walls, which was a shame.
Although 100km away from Ha Noi, Ninh Binh province had learned to exploit completely its natural and historical heritage, becoming a tourist center of the nation. Quang Ninh, located even farther and with only one natural heritage which was Ha Long bay, still drew millions of tourists every year. Meanwhile, Co Loa was still “in slumber”.
Currently, the management board of Co Loa only manage the village hall, the shrines, the temple, the well, the gardens and rafts, the pond, and some other items while the key items of Co Loa citadel (the three walls, three moats, and Hoang Giang river) are managed by Co Loa commune, meaning that the management of the Co Loa site is unsynchronized and unified. This is the reason why the preservation and promotion of the relic site is hindered, making it difficult to organize tourism services professionally.
The seminar “Co Loa: From core values to preservation and promotion” was a chance for the community to listen to opinions given by cultural and historical researchers, architects, and heritage managers in order to seek a solution for issues relating to the Co Loa relic site.
After the seminar, on Aug. 6, 2018, the People’s Committee of Ha Noi issued Decision No. 4014/QD-UBND approving the “Plan for management, preservation, and promotion of the values of Co Loa relic site in Dong Anh ward, Ha Noi city in period 2018 – 2020, with vision to 2030” proposed by Thang Long – Ha Noi Heritage Conservation Centre.
Quynh Anh