HCM CITY (VNS) — An exhibition featuring sculptures of sacred lions and nghe (mythological lions) has opened at the HCM City Fine Arts Museum.

Ma Thanh Cao, director of the museum, said: "The exhibition is a good chance for city residents, especially young people and artists, to know more about the country's sacred animals."

Organised by the Viet Nam Fine Arts Museum, the Nam Dinh Provincial Museum and the museum, the exhibition features 60 statues and engraved objects.

They date from the Ly, Tran, late Le and Nguyen dynasties (from 11th -19th centuries) and are made from wood, stone, porcelain, glazed terra-cotta and bronze.

They were sourced from temples and pagodas in northern provinces like Nam Dinh and Thanh Hoa as well as in Ha Noi. Others are owned by public institutions and individual collectors.

The exhibition will travel to the Cuu Long (Mekong) River Delta city of Can Tho and to the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) province of Dak Lak after the event in HCM City.

The sculptures can be seen at the Fine Arts Museum at 97A Pho Duc Chinh Street in District 1 until February 12. — VNS