Poland helps conserve Hue’s historical stele

Poland is to share the 37,000 USD cost of preserving a stele engraved with King Tu Duc’s teachings that sits in front of the old national university in Hue City with a donation of 18,700 USD.

An agreement to this regard was recently signed by the Polish Embassy and the Centre for Conservation of Former Imperial Hue City Relics, which will make up the rest.

Hue ’s National University in the central coastal province of Thua Thien-Hue was founded in August 1803, under the reign of King Gia Long. The original university was located 5 km west of Hue City and was considered one of the 20 renowned beauty spots in the former capital city.

During a visit to the university in 1854, King Tu Duc composed two writings, including a poem, to encourage students to focus on education, which was later engraved on a big stele erected in the university’s campus.

In 1908 under the reign of King Duy Tan, the university was relocated to the inner city and the stele was moved in front of the university’s gate.

Over the years the stele has suffered from serious damage.

The Polish Ambassador Roman Iwaszjiewics said that the donation to the stele’s upgrade is the beginning of a programme of cooperation between the central coastal province of Thua Thien-Hue and its Polish partners.

It will also help larger bilateral projects, not only in culture but also in other areas that Poland is strong in such as mining, agriculture, shipbuilding, education and tourism.

Poland is a world leader in the conservation and restoration of historical sites. Since the late 20 th century, the European country has helped Vietnam , especially Hue , to conserve many major historical sites such as The Mieu - a temple dedicated to the Nguyen Kings in Hue , and the ancient towers in My Son, Quang Nam province.

Hue and My Son have both been recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as world cultural heritage sites.