The remains of King Le Du Tong (1679-1731) will be reburied in the central province of Thanh Hoa on Monday, one month later than planned, after a 45-year residence at a local museum, Vietnamnet reported.

According to the report, nine households in Bai Trach Village had agreed to move for the construction of a royal tomb covering over 5,000 square meters.

A 700-kilogram-coffin with the same measures and designs as the original has been prepared for burial along with 32 royal dresses, said Vietnamnet.

Other items once buried with the king, all partially damaged, will be kept at the National History Museum in Hanoi.

The ceremony was expected to start at 1 a.m. at the museum, from where the king would be carried to Bai Trach Village, according to Vietnamnet. The report added that the procession would stop at the Lam Kinh Historic Citadel, also in Thanh Hoa, for 10 minutes to pay tribute to Tong’s ancestors.

Very few people would be allowed to attend the ceremony, according to the report.

Le Du Tong was crowned in 1705 and oversaw a period of peace and prosperity for 24 years before passing away in 1731 at 52.

While historical records say the 22nd king of Le Dynasty (1428-1788) was buried elsewhere, in 1958 Do Van Luong came across the ruler’s coffin while digging in his Bai Trach garden.

Source: Thanh Nien