(Baonghean.vn) - The ancient Vinh Citadel moat is being destroyed by garbage, wastewater, and water hyacinth. The upcoming Vinh Citadel moat renovation project is expected to restore the appearance of this unique historical site in Nghe An province.
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| Vinh Ancient Citadel, built by the Nguyen Dynasty in 1831, is a fortified administrative complex with a perimeter of 2,520 meters. The citadel comprises three gates: the Front Gate, the Left Gate, and the Right Gate. It is situated within a complex of ancient citadel relics surrounded by a moat. |
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| The moat was dug close to the outside of the citadel to obtain earth for building the ramparts and also to create an outer defensive system to increase the difficulty for the enemy when attacking the citadel. The moat was dug to a depth of 8 thước (3m) and a width of 70 thước (28m). The moat system was connected to the Vinh River (Cua Tien River) by a canal 5 thước (2m) wide, 4 thước (1.6m) deep, and 3 thước (1m) wide at the bottom. |
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However, today, all that remains of the moat is a murky ditch filled with sewage. |
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| Many sections have become dumping grounds for waste from surrounding residential areas. |
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| Many sections of the moat are covered with water hyacinth. |
This is the widest remaining section of the moat. |
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| Over time, the moat is shrinking. Houses are springing up everywhere, obscuring this ancient historical structure. |
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| The lives of people on both sides of the moat are suffering the consequences of environmental pollution and contaminated wastewater that they themselves discharge. |
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| The Vinh Citadel Moat Project, currently underway, is receiving great expectations from the public, experts, and researchers. Upon completion, the ancient moat will regain its pristine, picturesque beauty and is expected to become a major tourist attraction in Vinh City. |
Sy Minh
