The reception marking the 999th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and the 182nd session of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), drew the participation of UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for External Relations Ahmed Sayyad and Assistant Director-General for Culture Francoise Riviere as well as Vietnamese Ambassador to France Le Kinh Tai.

Addressing the event, the Hanoi vice mayor briefed the guests on Thang Long-Hanoi and emphasized the city’s role as a political, cultural and economic centre for Vietnam over the past decades.

Hanoi is now Vietnam’s largest city covering 3,300km² with a second largest population of more than 6 million, she said.