Aid freshens Hue’s citadel

THUA THIEN-HUE Hue has just completed a series of restoration projects at World Heritage sites that officials claim will improve the visitor experience at 132 exhibits in the royal citadel of Hue, a former imperical capital.
Since its UNESCO recognition as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1993, the former imperial city of Hue has received nearly USD8 million from foreign governments and organisations to preserve its relics.
The Hue Monuments Conservation Centre director, Phan Thanh Hai, told local media that the centre has now finished restoration of 132 exhibits in the citadel, which will improves the visitor experience at the world heritage site.
According to the Hue Relics Conservation Centre, the UNESCO international fund granted USD29,930 to a Hue heritage preservation project in 2014 to 2015, while the US Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) donated USD729,084 to two projects for royal citadel restoration, 2013 to 2014.
Other aid providers include the Rhone Polenc Chemicals Co. of France (USD1 million) to preserve Hien Lam Pavilion and Royal Palace; Vietnam-France Codev Association (USD124,000); Japan Trust Fund (USD100,000); Lao Government; British Embassy; and 10 other UK firms.
Poland, Germany and Japan, and a number of international organisations have sent experts to provide technical assistance to preserve cultural heritage in Hue.
This year, the citadel of Hue has welcomed more than 1.5 million domestic and foreign tourists, generating USD5.06 million, a 10.5% rise compared to the same period last year, he noted.

sourced:ttrweekly.com