Mr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Center for Conservation of Hue city Relics, said on December 12 that Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved mechanisms and policies to support investment in conservation and promotion of the value of this heritage.

According to the Decision, the state budget will allocate Thua Thien - Hue Province with a total of VND800 billion from 2013 to 2020, or VND100 billion ($5 million) per year on average.

Particularly, due to budget constraints, the funding for 2013 will be VND50 billion ($2.5 million). In the subsequent years, depending on budget conditions, the government will allocate additional capital to ensure the total investment of VND800 billion.

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the People's Committee of Thua Thien - Hue to implement this plan and to work out a mechanism to mobilize ODA for the restoration of Hue’s relics.

"Thua Thien - Hue is the first province in the country to enjoy this mechanism. This is a very important decision of the Government to ensure the successful implementation of the plan to preserve and promote the values of Hue relics in the 2010-2020 period," Hai said.

Hai said the entire funds will be used for restoration of Hue relics, including Ngo Mon Gate, Dong Khuyet Dai, the corridor of the Forbidden City, some components of King Tu Duc Tomb, Gia Thanh Palace of Emperor Gia Long Tomb and others.

Previously, Thua Thien - Hue had VND20-25 billion ($1-1.2 million) from the central budget and VND30 billion ($1.5 million) from the local budget to restore relics.

"This is the first time we have the sources of support from the Government's goal plan and the policy to get ODA for relic restoration," he said.

Source: Vietnamnet