The tower square draws inspiration from the local Ghềnh Đá Đĩa coastal area, known for its interlocking rock columns. — VNA/VNS Photo Phạm Cường

HÀ NỘI — Nghinh Phong (Welcoming Wind) tower square, located on the coast of Tuy Hoà City, the south-central province of Phú Yên, is the only representative from Southeast Asia to have received the 2023 Asian Urban Landscape Award.

The award was given to nine projects in the five countries of Japan, China, the Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, and Việt Nam, at a recent ceremony in Busan city, the RoK.

The tower square draws inspiration from the local Ghềnh Đá Đĩa coastal area, known for its interlocking rock columns, and influenced by the legendary ancestors Lạc Long Quân and Âu Cơ.

Legend has it that Lạc Long Quân (real name Sùng Lãm, son of Kinh Dương Vương and Thần Long Nữ) married Âu Cơ (the fairy daughter of Đế Lai). Au Co then went on to give birth to a pouch filled with 100 eggs, which soon hatched into a hundred sons. However, soon thereafter, Lạc Long Quân and Âu Cơ separated. Lạc Long Quân went to the coast with 50 of the children, while Âu Cơ went to the highlands with the rest.

Their eldest son was made king, who named the country Văn Lang and set up the capital in Phong Châu (modern-day Việt Trì City in Phú Thọ Province), beginning the 18 generations of the Hùng Kings.

The tower features two tall stone columns, representing Lạc Long Quân and Âu Cơ at 35 and 30 metres.

Projects and initiatives that clinch this award undergo evaluation based on five critical criteria: harmonious coexistence with regional environment; safety, convenience and sustainability; respect for regional culture and history; high artistic quality; and contributions to local development, capabilities of becoming models for other cities.

Recent awardees from Việt Nam include Cần Thơ floating market in the Mekong Delta city of the same name, Hội An ancient town in the central province of Quảng Nam, the central city of Đà Nẵng, Hà Nội mural street, and Nguyễn Tất Thành square in the northern province of Tuyên Quang. — VNS