Hanoi is set to spend VND48 billion (US$2.7 million) to overhaul one of the city’s most famous historic monuments, the Van Mieu (Temple of Literature).

The makeover of the Confucian temple, founded in 1070, will include painting, lacquering and gilding the wooden structures that house rows of steles listing many of the country’s first doctors from 1142-1778.

More than VND322 million ($18,000) will be spent on conducting initial surveys and holding conferences regarding which parts of the temple should be refurbished and in what manner.

This stage of the project is expected to be completed by the end of September, newswire VietnamNet reported.

The government is currently in the process of applying for UNESCO world heritage status for the monument and will submit its final documentation by September. Its nomination has already been approved.

Reported by Nguyen Viet Chien