Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – Tay Phuong Pagoda, a national specialrelic site in Hanoi’s Thach That district, has been recognised as a nationaltourist attraction.

Thedecision has been signed by Vice Chairman of the HanoiPeople's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen.

The municipal People's Committee has assigned the Culture, Information andSports Centre of the district to manage, exploit and develop the tourism sitein accordance with the provisions of the Law on Tourism and related legaldocuments.

Located 40km north west of Hanoi centre, Tay Phuong Pagoda was built around theeighth century and is the second oldest pagoda in Vietnam after Dau Pagodain the northern province of Bac Ninh. It is the combination of three pagodas, Ha,Trung and Thuong.

Besides its original architecture, Tay PhuongPagoda is well known for being home to unique works of ancient VietnameseBuddhist sculptures including carvings and statues.

Among 64 statues, 18 Arhats date back nearly 300 years. The mostimpressive is the statue of Guanyin Buddha with one thousand eyes and onethousand hands.

The pagoda was listed as a national special heritage site in 2014. A yearlater, a collection of more than 70 Buddha and Arhats statues were recognisedas national treasures.

The pagoda underwent many restorations prior to the Tay Son Dynasty(1778-1802), after which it has maintained its shape and architecture.

However, the national special relic site has suffered from severe degradationover time and is at risk of collapse, which could damage the centuries-oldstatues inside.

According to Can Viet Hung, Deputy Director of Thach That district CulturalInformation and Sports Centre, the city's Department of Culture and Sports isassigned to work with the locality to submit a restoration plan to the Ministryof Culture, Sports and Tourism for approval.

The project has an estimated budget of 150 billion VND (6.56 million USD) towholly repair the pagoda, preserving ancient features.

If the plan is approved, work will start in 2023 and is expected to befinished by 2025./.