Researchers in the central province of Ha Tinh Monday discovered Vietnam’s longest royal order written on silk to date.

The order conferred an honor on a mandarin in the Restored Le Dynasty that reigned between the 16^th and 17^th centuries.

Written on a 4.5 meter long and 0.5 meter wide strip of yellow silk with King Le Kinh Tong’s royal seal, the order has 318 words that praise the dedication of mandarin Nguyen Van Giai, said Ha Tinh’s Deaprtment of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The royal order is currently in the hands of Nguyen Van Tan’s family in Ich Hau Commune. The family has more than 40 other royal orders in their possession.