The project will mark the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Over the next five years, the sanctum area of the original Lam Kinh will also be restored to its former beauty during Le Trung Hung and Le dynasties.

The restoration will use precious wood and meticulous carvings of dragon images and patterns.

For nearly 600 years, Lam Kinh historical relic has been synonymous with national hero Le Loi, the leader of the resounding Lam Son uprising. Construction of Lam King began in 1433, immediately following the death of King Le Thai To, the first ruler of the Le Dynasty. Building a second capital, with monuments and mausoleums in Lam Son strengthened the loyalty of the people to the King and the reigning family.

Along with mausoleums, the Le Dynasty also built three temples in Lam Kinh. The Wind and Cloud temple was used to pray for favorable weather for the harvests. The second was for Society, where wishes for a wealthy life were made. The third, South Communion, was where Kings reported and expressed their gratitude to the heavens.

Through the changing times, the relics of Lam Kinh tell the history of Vietnam.

Wars and time have destroyed most of the magnificent architecture. The only things that can remind us of the splendor of the former capital are the moss grown terraces and stone pillars.

The project hopes to honor the significance of the sanctuary, making it a tourist attraction and festival site.

This year, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will collaborate with local authorities to host Lam Kinh Festival on September 28-30 to mark 592 years since the Lam Son Revolution, 582 years since Le Thai To’s enthronement, and 577 years since the death of Le Loi King.

The annual International Travel Expo scheduled for September 30 to October 2 in HCMC’s District 7 will highlight river tourism and health tourism in the city as well as the world heritage sites in the country, the organizer said.

Nguyen Bao Anh, deputy head of the Tourism Promotion Division under HCMC’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that the organizing committee would set up booths to promote above-mentioned products and tourist sites alongside the booths of tourism service providers.

The event at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center will also incorporate a conference to promote destinations of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia with a focus on river tourism with an aim to link up the river routes of the three countries.

Under the theme “Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam - Three Countries, One Destination,” the travel expo will feature a tourism exhibition, meetings between travel buyers and sellers, free-show tours and seminars. The expo will also include the ASEAN Tourism Investment Forum.

The event organizers are the city’s Tourism Department, IIR Exhibitions Pte Ltd and VINEAX.

Anh said 266 tourism service buyers from 43 countries put their names down to join the travel expo.

Up to now, 62 exhibitors have booked booths at the expo, including tourism service providers and provincial tourism promotion departments from Binh Thuan, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, and foreign tourism promotion departments of India, Cambodia, Taiwan, and South Korea. Anh said the organizing committee would continue to receive registrations of exhibitors.

In addition, five international media agencies named Travel News Weekly/Travel World (China), MICE in Asia (Malaysia), Travel for Life (Russia) and CNN Traveler (America) have registered to join the expo.

The city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is asking international airlines like Vietnam Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines to support guests and organize familiarization trips during the event.

The Vietnam History Museum and the Binh Thuan Province Culture, Sports and Tourism Department said on on August 10 they comprise 10,000 pottery pieces, 83 stone artefacts, and 13 copper, iron, and crystal items.

Pottery covered in floral patterns is a recurring theme, archaeologists from the Vietnam History Museum and the Binh Thuan History Museum, who carried out the excavations, said.

Nguyen Xuan Ly, director of the museum, said the finds date from 2, 500 to 2,000 years ago.

Phu Truong is recognised as a major Sa Huynh Culture relics site, some others being Doc Chua in southern Binh Duong Province and Chinh Spring in central Quang Ngai province.

The Sa Huynh Culture thrived in central and southern Vietnam between 1,000 BC and AD 200 and, among other relics, left behind iron artefacts like axes, swords, and knives inside jars.

Part of the exhibition celebrates the long-standing co-operation and friendship between Russia and Viet Nam.

Veteran photographer Pham Tien Dung has more than 10 photos displayed at the exhibition. He says he took the photos while studying and working in Russia.

“I was inspired by the peaceful landscapes and upright people in Russia,” he said. “Russian and Vietnamese people have a strong attachment to each other that is difficult to explain.”

The one-week long exhibition is jointly organised by the VNA, Russian ITAR-TASS Agency and the Russian Embassy.