Citadel Open in Hanoi

From pamela.mcelwee@yale.edu Mon Oct 11 19:40:05 2004

Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 09:38:07 +0700

From: Pamela McElwee <pamela.mcelwee@yale.edu>

Reply-To: vsg@u.washington.edu

To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>

Subject: Citadel Open in Hanoi

Many VSGers may already know this, but if anyone is in Hanoi and hasn't heard yet, the Citadel is open for public viewing this month as part of the 50th anniversary of liberation celebrations. It appears that it will be open until Oct 31 only, and I think it is open every day but Monday, the usual govt hours in morning and afternoon with a lunch break when it's closed. The main entrance is on Nguyen Tri Phuong street (where there is a motorbike/car park area). There is a small exhibition within on the archaeological digs ongoing in Ba Dinh, with displays of various objects that have been found and some maps and photos of the sites. Although the explanations are all in VNese and rather minimal i.e. "statue, Tran dynasty", I imagine it would still be interesting for many. The other main viewing areas are the offices of Le Duan, Vo Nguyen Giap et al where planning for the final years of the US war took place.

It was jam-packed when we went this weekend; a weekday might be the best time to go.

Pam McElwee

Dr. Pamela McElwee

Visiting Research Fellow

Program on Agrarian Studies

Yale University

From dgm405@coombs.anu.edu.au Mon Oct 11 20:24:52 2004

Date: Tue, 12 Oct 2004 13:09:10 +1000

From: David Marr <dgm405@coombs.anu.edu.au>

Reply-To: vsg@u.washington.edu

To: Vietnam Studies Group <vsg@u.washington.edu>

Subject: Re: Citadel Open in Hanoi

There is an attractive and informative book put out early last month by the VN History Association on the digs and their significance: Hoang Thanh Thang Long: Phat hien khao co hoc (Dac san Xua & Nay, 25 Tong Dan, Hanoi). An EFEO team headed by Andrew Hardy completed a forceful `Evaluation report' on the site, dated 15 August. I've heard that the Politburo will discuss the future of downtown Hanoi any day now.

David Marr

PS: How did the 10-10 commemoration go?