President Võ Văn Thưởng and his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. at the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — President Võ Văn Thưởng and his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. on Tuesday visited the Thăng Long Imperial Citadel, a world cultural heritage site in Hà Nội, as part of the latter’s state visit to Việt Nam.

At the site, the two leaders attended the “Happy Tết 2024” programme that is taking place ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tết) Festival at the Central Sector of the citadel.

President Thưởng introduced the traditional Tết holiday of Việt Nam, including its cultural values, folk games, and dishes, to his guest. They also talked to local people and artisans of craft villages from across Việt Nam who are reenacting the traditional Tết spaces of Hà Nội, the central and southern regions, and ethnic minority groups.

Later, the Presidents took a tour of relics at the imperial citadel, including Đoan Môn – one of the main entrances to the citadel – with archaeological structures, the exhibition hall of antiquities and some items recognised as national treasures, and Kính Thiên Palace that used to be the venue of the most important ceremonies, receptions for foreign envoys, and discussions of national issues of feudal dynasties in the past.

The Thăng Long Imperial Citadel, built by feudal dynasties in different periods of Việt Nam's history, is one of the most important relic sites in the country. In 2010, the World Heritage Committee recognised the citadel’s Central Sector as a world cultural heritage site. — VNS

Vietnamese and Philippine presidents experience the traditional new year festival of local ethnic minorities in Việt Nam. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

Vietnamese and Philippine presidents listened to the brief introduction of Thăng Long Imperial City. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất