New gates to welcome visitors to Hanoi
Update: Jun 28, 2010
Five enormous gates to welcome visitors to the capital city of Hanoi will be built on the five main highways leading into the city, say the municipal People’s Committee.

Their construction will cost VND50 billion (USD2.6 million) and will add to the 1,000th anniversary Thang Long-Hanoi celebrations.

The gates are designed to feature the country’s historic and cultural values.

The first one will be built on a site of 5,000m² in Phu Xuyen District and will represent the 10 wings of the “Lac bird”, a symbol used by early Vietnamese people.

The second and the third, in the districts of Soc Son and Hoai Duc, will portray traditional Vietnamese bronze drums.

The fourth, in Gia Lam District will represent the sharpened poles that General Ngo Quyen used to sink the Chinese Han dynasty’s warships at the famous Battle of Bach Dang River in 938, ending 1,000 years of Chinese domination dating back to 111 B.C.

The last but not least in Gia Lam rural district will have eight dragons representing the eight kings of Ly Dynasty.
VNA