Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, Sept. 27 (VNA) -- U.S. Charge d' affaires to Viet Nam Robert Porter on Sept. 26 granted USD 15,000 to the effort to restore 29 ancient statues and articles of worship in the Dau Pagoda in Thuan Thanh district of northern Bac Ninh province.

This is the U.S. Government's first official donation to Viet Nam's cultural relics restoration.

The project, expected to be complete by the end of 2001, will be carried out at a total cost of USD 20,000, including USD 5,000 contributed by Viet Nam's Ministry of Culture and Information.

Viet Nam now has nearly 2,380 relics and scenic places listed for national preservation. Of them, 1,207 are of historical value, 1,064 of architectural value, 28 of archaeological value, and 79 of natural scenic value.--VNA