Colossal collection on Thang Long published

      A comprehensive history of the 1,000-year-old Thang Long Citadel has been published.
Tong Tap Nghin Nam Van Hien Thang Long (The Thousand Year Thang Long Collection) consists of 12,000 pages, is divided into four parts and weighs 25kg.
The collection offers an overview of the 1,000-year history of Thang Long Citadel (today’s Ha Noi), from geology to politics, military science, economics, culture, arts, residents and social organisations from feudal dynasties such as the Ly, Tran and Le, from 1010 to the present time.
As many as 1,200 authors, all researchers in various fields, in co-ordination with 35 central agencies and hundreds of schools, organisations and associations in the city, have worked on the collection for the past seven years.
"The collection has the great honour to be the first flower among hundreds to blossom in celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of the capital, which falls next October," said Professor Vu Khieu, a member of the editing team. "We are not trying to satisfy every reader; we just wanted to create a large overview of Thang Long’s history and culture."
Khieu says the book can offer basic answers on numerous issues, events, historic persons and traditional customs of the capital.
"Readers will then judge the quality and effect of the collection," he said.
The collection, which is published by the Ha Noi People’s Committee, the Viet Nam Economic Times and the Van Hoa Publishing House, is now available at bookstores for VND4 million (US$225).