LookAtVietnam – Vietnamese scientists have been instructed to come up with a “special suit” aimed at preserving the body of former President Ho Chi Minh.

President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum in Hanoi

However, the site closes each year between September and December while Russian and Vietnamese experts work on the body.

Now, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) is joining forces with Academy No 69 to conduct research into how a new preservation suit can be made.

According to associate professor Dr Pham Huu Ly from VAST, scientists have been ordered to create a suit which retains the solutions used to preserve the body.

It’s not the first time this has been attempted – in 1994, scientists announced they had come up with a suit that would solve the problem. However over time it has proved to be unsatisfactory.

Since then work has continued and in 2007 a group of scientists headed by professor Dang Vu announced they had created a medical-biological material sample.

Now they are required to turn it into a workable “suit”.

“The most difficult work has been completed. The newly discovered material is proving able to meet strict requirements,” said Ly.

“The material has been used in tests for nine months and no problems have been reported.”

Ly added, in principle, if the material could be “seepage resistant” for 12-15 months then they can be used for late President Ho Chi Minh.

Another task will be creating special glue to “tailor” the suit. The glue also must be able to retain the solution. Scientists will then have all the materials needed.

However, Professor Ly says it remains a lengthy process and they could be five to six years away from a finished suit.

VietNamNet/KHDS