The capital City of Hanoi is awaiting the Paris-based World Heritage Committee’s response to its dossier on the Thang Long-Hanoi Royal Citadel in requesting that UNESCO recognise it as a world cultural heritage site.

The response is expected to be communicated on November 15 to help Vietnam finalise its official documentation and submit it to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) before February 1, 2009.

This information was released on October 2 by the municipal People’s Committee and the Centre for Conservation of the Co Loa-Hanoi Ancient Citadel Relics Site.

The two agencies said the submission of the dossier to the World Heritage Centre was the initial step in the roadmap for UNESCO recognition which was approved by the Prime Minister on September 23.

The international body’s consultation agencies will examine proposals from countries across the world from March 2009 until May 2010, with the final decision being made by the World Heritage Committee by mid-2010.

The linchpin of the heritage scheme consists of the ancient Hanoian town, covering almost 138,658 sq. m. and an archaeological site on an area of over 47,720 sq. m. in the French-styled Hoang Dieu street.

The beltroad of the site covers the entire Ba Dinh political centre and a vast area adjacent to the Head Office of the Ministry of Defence. (VNA)