From the foundations: The three-door gate of the Princess Dien Phuoc Temple in Hue's Kim Long Ward. — VNS Photo Trung Hoang

THUA THIEN – HUE — (VNS) The Hue Centre for Monuments Conservation and the UNESCO World Heritage Institute under the Japanese-based Waseda University on Tuesday broke ground for restoration of Dien Phuoc Princess Temple in Kim Long Ward in the former royal city of Hue.

Works will include the removal of the 260-sq.m structure and enhancement of the foundation before preservation of the status quo of the temple.

Funding of VND2.2 billion (US$104,760) for the preservation project comes from Waseda Univesity. Restoration is scheduled to be completed in November 2013.

The temple was built in 1854 to worship Princess Dien Phuoc (1824 – 48), the eldest daughter of King Thieu Tri (1807 – 47), the third King of the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945).

Princess Dien Phuoc lived in this private house built in 1846 after she married the prince consort Nguyen Van Ninh.

The house was rebuilt in 1854 by King Tu Duc (1829 – 83), the Princess's younger brother, who renamed it The Eldest Princess Dien Phuoc's Temple.

The temple has extraordinary architecture and a historical and cultural importance. It was built in a traditional style with unique imperial-palace construction techniques.

The UNESCO World Heritage Institute said the structure was of great architectural, artistic, historical and cultural value, and was a bridge linking royal architecture and the folk architecture of Hue. — VNS