The number 0 is considered one of the greatest discoveries in human history. The concept of zero was invented by the Indian around the 7th century. Researchers say that many ancient cultures have used the number 0 as a reservoir, meaning a symbol to represent something that does not exist, but can exist afterwards.
Therefore, the goal of 0 was used to mark the first point of delimiting the borders between countries and the starting point of a journey. Vietnam has 2 milestones, one of which is the A Pa Chai milestone located at the "three border crossing" between Vietnam - Laos - China in Xin Thau commune, Muong Nhe district, Dien Bien province.
Another is Landmark No. 0 in the "Indochina Triangle" of Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia in Bo Y Commune, Ngoc Hoi District, Kon Tum Province. Both of these zero landmarks are actually not numbered, but are called zero, starting points for the next landmarks.
Thanks to their special and special nature, both of these milestones have an important position in the minds of Vietnamese people, because they not only mark the division of geographical areas and territories but also in the aspect of national history and love for the homeland and country.
However, kilometre 0 has another value, marking the starting point of a road or a place. That starting point is often located in the central area of the place.
For example, when we look at Ho Chi Minh Road, we will see kilometers 0 pillar located at the special national relic site of Pac Bo in Cao Bang province because this place is associated with President Ho Chi Minh, after returning home for revolutionary activities in 1941. This kilometre 0 is a historical site of a legendary trail.
The remaining kilometers 0 were chosen by localities to be placed at the central post office, because the post office is the communication heart of the whole province. Therefore, when we see the kilomet column symbolizing information: Ho Chinh Minh City 100km, it means that we are still 100km from the city center post office.
According to this principle, the current kilometre No. 0 pole of Hanoi Capital is defaulted as the Hanoi Post Office in Hoan Kiem Lake, so it is also known as the Hoan Kiem Lake Post Office. However, recently, the Hanoi People's Committee decided to place the kilomet No. 0 pillar at the Ly Thai To monument area, a few dozen meters from the Bo Ho post office and on the same road axis.
This decision demonstrates the legitimate aspiration of the capital's government and people for a project or an official milestone to authenticate the location of kilometre 0 in the Hoan Kiem Lake area - a sacred place that is considered a gathering place for the spirit of the sky and earth, the heart of Thang Long - Dong Do - Hanoi.
This place deserves to be the starting point for all roads going in 4 directions, 8 directions, and at the same time the end point of all roads leading to Hanoi. Choosing the Ly Thai To monument area as kilometre 0 is completely reasonable in terms of geography, history, culture, and spirituality.
Looking at the historical flow, we see that the French once placed kilometre 0 of Hanoi next to Hoan Kiem Lake, however, in a position opposite the Hoan Kiem Lake post office. That location is the Chavassieux fountain - named after the Vice-Remember of Indochina - built mainly in the middle of Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square.
Chavassieux fountain, built in 1901, is considered the center of Hanoi during the French colonial period. This location not only has technical significance as a starting point for measuring geographical distances but is also a symbol of colonial architecture in the indigenous cultural space.
Later, when it gained independence, Hanoi still preserved the fountain and square, but changed its name to Long Van fountain, while Place Negrier square - the location of the front of the square to punish patriotic artists who resisted the rule of French colonialism - was renamed Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc, associated with the patriotic education movement in the early 20th century led by artist Luong Van Can.
At the same time, kilomet No. 0 is undergroundly associated with the old Hanoi Post Office, a neoclassical architectural work inaugurated in 1899, located at the Dinh Tien Hoang - Dinh Le intersection.
Therefore, Hanoi's construction of kilometre 0 pillar at Ly Thai To monument area is an important and very necessary decision. This location is almost opposite the Turtle Tower and is associated with Ly Thai To, the emperor who made the decision to build the paradise of Dai Co Viet from Hoa Lu to Dai La, and then Hanoi became an eternal city manager.
The erection of the kilometre 0 mark here will diversify the cultural and historical layer of this architectural work. Combined with Ly Thai To monument, Hanoi's kilometre 0 point will become an attractive "check-in" point for tourists at the official center of the capital.
The historical story of 1,000 years of Hanoi, the majestic garden of Thien Do Chieu by Ly Thai To, the legend of the sea turtle, the self-made garden of "ta Thanh Thien" in the village of Rising Tower... will certainly make this kilometre No. 0 famous like other kilometre No. 0 in Paris (with Place du Parvis Notre-Dame), Moscow (with Red Square), Madrid (with Puerta del Sol)...
