New parliament site relocated to preserve ruins
HANOI - Vietnam's prime minister has decided to move the proposed site for construction of the country's new parliament to preserve ruins dating back to the 9th century, officials said Thursday. "The construction of the building won't happen on the archeological site," an official at the Government Office said.
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has asked the Ministry of Construction and Hanoi's People Committee to find a new site. The Communist Party's politburo would take the final decision, he said. Work on the new parliamentary building in Hanoi was halted after archaeologists discovered the remnants of a royal citadel along with relics from five feudal dynasties on the proposed site. The dig has uncovered the foundations of a great palace and millions of artifacts from the Chinese Tang dynasty and the Vietnamese dynasties of Ly, Tran, Le and Nguyen. Some pieces date back to the 9th century.
Agence France Presse - March 25, 2005
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