June 16 is noted as a red-letter day. Because on this day, the Ho Dynasty Citadel in the central province of Thanh Hoa will be recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. In celebration of the important event, a series of cultural events will be held from June 15-17. The events include a countryside fair, a folk game festival and a musical show. The fair consists of 100 booth selling souvenirs and specialty foods, while the folk games feature traditional games famous during the Tran Dynasty (1225 - 1400) and Ho Dynasty (1400 - 1407). The musical show carries the theme “Ho Dynasty Citadel – Vietnam’s Pride.”

Last year at around the same time, an advisor of the Tran emperors named Ho Quy Ly put up an exhibition room at the citadel displaying artifacts connected with the dynasty. For a brief history and background, Ly established himself as a court fixture in the dynasty, even making himself indispensable in the kingdom’s administration. Moreover, he acquired the most important designation as the General/ Protector/ Regent of the country in 1939. In fact, he became so powerful that he was able to dethrone several kings of the Tran dynasty and seated himself as the new emperor.

On June 16 this year, the province will hold a conference on UNESCO on the following points: policy, program, and budget for the period from 2014-2021. The said conference will be joined in by the general director of UNESCO and 80 representatives from 37 countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region.