A wide range of attractive and colorful activities will be held at the Pedestrian Zone around the Son Tay Ancient Fortress in Hanoi on November 12 to celebrate its 200th anniversary [1822-2022], according to the municipal Department of Tourism.

The activities will take place on the day to help preserve and bring into play cultural values of the fortress, as well as promote tourism development in Son Tay Town, the department said. 

The event is expected to be a major political and cultural event of the town, creating a premise to promote economic and tourism investment and attract investors to Son Tay Town.

Monument of Son Tay Ancient Fortress in Hanoi. Photo: VGP

Le Dai Thang, Vice Chairman of the Son Tay Town People's Committee, said: “The celebration will attract many delegates, guests, singers and artists. In the days leading up to the anniversary, we will organize cultural, sports and tourism activities, such as: photo and artifact exhibition to introduce the relics of the ancient Son Tay fortress, antique exhibition at the ancient citadel, calligraphy, singing and literature performances, among others."

Besides, Son Tay Town is expected to coordinate with the Hanoi Department of Tourism to draw students to the ancient fortress in order to educate the young generation on tradition, Thang added.

The vice chairman highlighted cultural, artistic and sports activities in the pedestrian space, especially an international hot air balloon festival in the town’s center.

“The 200th anniversary of Son Tay Ancient Fortress aims to show young generation’s deep awareness and responsibility for the cultural heritage left by their ancestors. At the same time, the celebrations are aimed to honor and promote unique cultural values of the ancient fortress and the potentials of Son Tay Town, attracting tourists for the local development.” Thang emphasized.

The Son Tay Ancient Fortress was a military base built in 1822 under the reign of King Minh Mang (1820-1841) to protect the west of Thang Long Imperial Citadel. It is about 45km to the west of Hanoi and is an unique ancient military architecture in Vietnam for being built with laterite.

The walking zone around the fortress is the fourth pedestrian space of Hanoi, after the routes around Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi Old Quarter, and Trinh Cong Son Street next to West Lake.

The walking street around the Son Tay Ancient Fortress is 820-meter-long, with a total land area of ​​34,550 square meters. The pedestrian zone in the fortress attracted about 25,000-30,000 visitors at weekends after it was launched in April 2022. 

The ancient fortress is also likened to an amusement park, a green lung located in the heart of the city with rich vegetation and a place for local residents to exercise and hang out in their leisure time. With historical and cultural values, the ancient Son Tay Fortress was classified as a national historical-cultural relic by the Vietnamese Government in 1994.

According to the planning of the capital until 2030, with a vision for 2050, Son Tay Town is one of the five satellite towns of Hanoi whose economy will rely on historical, cultural tourism, ecology, and commercial services.