Emperor Quang Trung rises in Hue

(31-01-2008)

THUA THIEN-HUE — Construction on a 12m statue of Emperor Quang Trung began at Mt Ban in the former royal capital of Hue on Monday.

Mt Ban is where Emperor Quang Trung, born Nguyen Hue (1753-1792) in Tay Son District, Binh Dinh Province, prayed to heaven before ascending the throne in 1788.

The marble statue, which features the 37-year-old Nguyen Hue as he came to the throne and founded the Tay Son dynasty, will be placed on a 9m pedestal.

Construction costs VND20 billion (US$1.25 million) and will be completed by the end of May before the opening of the Hue Festival in June.

The statue is phase 1 of a project to build a memorial complex on 9.5ha at Mt Ban, which should be finished by 2010. — VNS