French region helps restore traditional homes in Hue

08:49' 04/07/2007 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge - France's Nord-Pas de Calais region has provided VND558.6 million in funding for the restoration of four historical homes in the central Thua Thien-Hue province's Hue City. The funding is part of a larger project initiated by the French region that aims to preserve a number of historic and culturally significant homes in the province that are in disrepair and are now facing the threat of being demolished to make way for land sales. Hue is home to 900 old houses, with 237 of them already being designated as being in urgent need of preservation. Close to 150 of them have been selected for the restoration project that is expected to run from 2006 to 2010 at a cost of VND2.6 billion. Thua Thien-Hue had earlier offered incentives to homeowners that included preferential loans that amounted to 70% of total restoration costs in a bid to encourage the preservation of the houses. To date almost 40 of the sites are damaged beyond repair, have been demolished or sold. (Source: Viet Nam Net)