The US Department of State, through the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, recently funded over US$28,302 for a project to revamp altars at Trieu To Mieu, part of the UNESCO-recognized Hue royal palace.

The project aims to preserve the relic which boasts immense cultural, historical and artistic values of the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945), the country’s last monarchy reign.

Activities include reinforcing the wooden frames, revamping the three altars, and restoring the carving and gilding of the other altars.

Built in 1804, Trieu To Mieu (the Ancestor’s Temple), was used to worship Nguyen Kim, father to the Nguyen dynasty’s pioneering lord. Since 1989, the edifice has sustained serious damage, including walls being scaled off, inscriptions fading, and tiled roofs leaking.