The 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long refers to 1,000 years of Civilization, achievements of Thang Long culture and people. Though bodies of our forefather have turned into dust and ashes, their quintessence is still perpetual, which is indicated in cultural heritages, spiritual and material achievements and virtue of Thang Long people. This means that study about cultural heritages of the 1,000-year Thang Long is to find essence, constituent elements and historical sources of those heritages.
Industrialization and modernization are great challenges to Vietnam as they are aimed to transform the country from a classical model into a modern one. On the other hand, industrialization is exactly modernization. However, modernization does not mean rubbing out traditions. In fact, traditions should be changed appropriately to modern life.
The approx 1,000-year Thang Long-Ha Noi has left over, the country in general and the capital city in particular, precious cultural heritages. Due attention should be paid to preservation and development of these heritages. One-time, Vietnamese people did not realize important significances of these cultural heritages; thus, they neglected a large number of temples, pagodas, ancient buildings as well as devastation of saboteurs.
However, the Communist Party of Vietnam had timely curbed the situation. In recent decades, the municipal party committee and local government have always instructed authorities at district, ward and communal levels to preserve and restore all cultural heritages, regardless tangible and intangible forms. Forgotten good customs have been restored even they were neglected for years.
It is very essential to restore, preserve and conserve cultural heritages but development of these heritages is another matter. People think that these heritages are invaluable assets left by their forefathers as temples, tombs, production tools, products of labor and artistic and scientific works represent intellect, talent, soul and stamp of the forerunners. These heritages may also indicate daily life of the forerunners of specific historic periods, their sayings, and behavior in different circumstances. We can find an infinite spirit for the cause of current development in those heritages.
It is an imperative task to restore, preserve and develop cultural heritages in the current globalization. Globalization and Vietnam’s entrance to the World Trade Organization (WTO) have been important driving forces for Vietnam’s development and facilitated exchanges and integration among nationsin terms of economic development, politics and culture.
While the integration facilitates Vietnamese people to acquire advanced and positive factors of human’s achievements, it results in neglect of quintessence of national cultural heritages and harm to national identities due to harmful elements.
Therefore, it is essential for the whole Vietnamese people and dwellers in the capital city of Hanoi to have a scientific, advanced and lucid attitude towards national cultural heritages, particularly 1,000-year Thang Long heritage.