A Polish-funded training course on the preservation of Bi Dinh (Stele Pavilion) at the Mausoleum of King Tu Duc in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue was concluded on December 4.

Provided with 39,586 USD by Poland ’s Development Cooperation Programme, the course, which ran from June 10 this year, gave training in preserving relic sites which were constructed using traditional methods.

Architect Marek Baranski, head of the training group, said the trainees were equipped with knowledge about evaluating risks to relic sites, selecting technical measures and research methods, and setting up preservation plans. They also had a chance to practice their acquired learning to conserve Bi Dinh, which houses the largest stone stele in Vietnam .

The Mausoleum of King Tu Duc (1829 – 1883), built in 1864, is a typical example of traditional Hue architecture and one of the most important sites in the royal relics complex.

Since 1993, the international community has granted nearly 6 million USD to help preserve intangible and tangible cultural heritage in Vietnam . Poland was one of the first countries to provide aid for this purpose.-VNA