The monument for great poet Nguyễn Du, a special national relic site in Nghi Xuân District. — Photo baohatinh.vn

HÀ TĨNH — Authorities in the central province of Hà Tĩnh have inaugurated a project to restore and upgrade a special national relic site memorialising poet Nguyễn Du in Nghi Xuân District.

The first phase of the project, worth about VNĐ45.6 billion (US$2 million), is expected to be completed by September this year to mark the 200th death anniversary of the poet (September 1820-2020).

Hồ Bách Khoa, head of the management board of the site, said the first phase would focus on restoring and upgrading original relics, including Văn Thánh Literature House, temple and tomb of Lam Khê hầu Nguyễn Trọng, alter for Lĩnh Nam công Nguyễn Quỳnh, Trường Ninh Pagoda, tomb of great poet Nguyễn Du (1765-1820), temple and tomb of Xuân Quận công Nguyễn Nghiễm and Chợ Trổ communal house.

The project will also cover the construction of infrastructure, including upgrading and expanding the 1.47km-road to and around the site, Khoa said.

The worshiping temple and tomb of Xuân Quận công Nguyễn Nghiễm will be restored as part of the project preserving the monument site for great poet Nguyễn Du in Hà Tĩnh Province. — Photo baohatinh.vn

The official revealed Hà Tĩnh Province's Management Board for civil and industrial construction was the major investor and that funding for the project was from the central and local budgets and other sources.

The memorial site has become a national culture and tourism destination since the Government developed a master plan approved by then Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng five years ago.

The site spans Tên Điền Commune, part of Xuân Giang Commune and Nghi Sơn Town in Nghi Sơn District.

Local authorities are currently making efforts to preserve and uphold the values of relic sites related to the Nguyễn family in Tiên Điền Commune and traditional cultural facilities of Tiên Điền village by building new public spaces and tourist attractions that enable visitors to explore the local culture.

Workers are preparing for the restoration of a historical relic, part of the national special cultural and historical site and the monument for great poet Nguyễn Du. — Photo baohatinh.vn

The Nguyễn Tiên Điền family grave and worshipping house, as well as the memorial house dedicated to Nguyễn Du, will be among the targeted areas for upgrades.

The epic poet’s grave and the garden of the Nguyễn family, among others, will be equipped with signs and lighting.

Nguyễn Du (alias Tố Như), the author of Việt Nam’s literary masterpiece Truyện Kiều (The Tale of Kiều), was honoured in 1965 by the World Peace Council, along with eight others, for his devotion to Vietnamese literature and world culture.

He was also recognised as a World Cultural Figure by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) at its 37th General Conference session in Paris in 2013. — VNS