LookAtVietnam- The Italian Ambassador Andrea Perugini has become the first person presented with a Thang Long dragon as a gift for Hanoi’s 1000th anniversary. Bridge- The Italian Ambassador Andrea Perugini has become the first person presented with a Thang Long dragon as a gift for Hanoi’s 1000<

The ambassador said he would bring this gift to Italy after his term in Vietnam. He likes Vietnamese handicraft items very much, especially bronze and silver-made items.

The Thang Long dragons are a product of Dong Son Fine-art Company. Previously this firm promised to cast 1000 bronze dragons with ruby eyes as special gifts for the capital city’s great anniversary.

This firm imported 2000 natural rubies from Africa to make dragon eyes. Each eye is over one carat, priced over $100. The production cost for each dragon is estimated at $800.

The 1st and the 1000th dragons will be auctioned for charity and to raise funds for the Foundation for Thang Long Culture.

The Thang Long dragons are cast by pure bronze, with two ruby eyes, based on depictions of the dragon seen by King Ly Thai To. Each product is 3-3.5kg in weight and numbered from 1st to 1000th. Each dragon will have a certificate of origin.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Tran Chien Thang observed that casting 1000 dragons as special gifts for Hanoi’s anniversary is one way to advertise the cream of Hanoi’s craft villages to international visitors and Vietnamese people.