Vietnamese pagoda to be restored to former glory: 28-08-2007
Vietnam's deputy minister of culture, sports and tourism Huynh Vinh Ai has called upon local authorities to assist in restoring the Doi (Bats) Pagoda after it was ruined by fire earlier this month.
According to Viet Nam News, the deputy minister insisted that the 400-year-old temple should be restored to its former state, as it was a national historical monument and needed to be preserved as such.
Costs for the restoration are estimated at VND2 billion (£61,000) and will be supported by the state.
The Doi Pagoda is located in the Soc Trang province, in south Vietnam. The temple is said to have been built by the Khmer, with elaborate Buddhist decorations on the walls. It is also home to a group of bats, whose droppings work as fertilisers for the local farmers.
The fire that destroyed the temple started on August 15th and is thought to have been caused by a lit candle coming into contact with the flammable furnishings and decorations.
Head monk of the pagoda, the Most Venerable Kim Rene, said that the bats had not been affected by the fire. He added that precautions would be taken in the future to ensure that the accident would not reoccur.
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