Ancient town celebrates 7th birthday as World Heritage Site
12:59 04/03/2009

      Vietnam’s central Quang Nam province, boasting two UNESCO-listed world heritages, on Monday night organized a festival to celebrate its centuries-old Hoi An Town’s 7th birthday as a World Cultural Heritage.

The festival, including a parade participated by thousands of locals, served to mark the seventh anniversary of Hoi An being recognized as a world heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization or UNESCO, on December 4, 1999.

Earlier, the ancient town had concluded a portrait-painting contest and inaugurated a garden displaying artworks created by Vietnamese and international artisans.

On the occasion, the town government started the construction of a monument to Kazic, a Polish architect who has greatly contributed to preserving the town’s ancient structures.

Hoi An has this year attracted nearly 1 million tourists, over 60 percent of whom are foreigners.

Nearby, My Son sanctuary also in Quang Nam, is also a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site.

Reported by TDT, HT – Translated by Hoang Bao

Source : thanhniennews.com