Restoration of Ho Phra Keo begins soon

VIENTIANE Vientiane City’s Information, Culture and Tourism Department signed an agreement, last week, with the Meephounsap Construction Company to restore the historic Ho Phra Keo.
Lao News Agency said the director of the Vientiane Capital Information, Culture and Tourism Department, Vanpheng Keonakhone, and president of Meephounsap Construction Company, Bounmy Sonemixay signed off on construction documents.
The first phase of the restoration of Ho Phra Keo will cost approximately USD775,404 and will take a year to complete. The renovation will include roof and ceiling replacement and repairs to windows and paint.
inside no 1City funding for the project was approved 5 December 2014, and public donations as of 17 January totalled USD91,695. Another USD30,770 has been pledged by businesses, according to the tourism department director.
Ho Phra Keo was formerly a temple, constructed in 1565 as the personal chapel for the royal family. It was the home of the revered Emerald Buddha after it was brought there from North Siam, (North Thailand today) which was then part of the Lanna kingdom, which also included Vientiane.
The sacred jade Buddha image was later seized by an invading Siamese army in 1778 and taken south and resides today in Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok. The temple in Vientiane was transformed into the National Museum in 1942.

sourced:traveldailynews.asia