Authorities say were misled in demolished temple controversy

The courtyard at the Rong Temple in Bac Ninh Province, recently razed as part of a project to reconstruct the 700-year-old structure An official in the northern province of Bac Ninh says a local People’s Committee knowingly deceived higher authorities when obtaining permission for the controversial leveling of a 13th century temple.

The 700-year-old Rong (Dragon) Temple was demolished in January under the approval of Dinh Bang Ward authorities, which said the temple was dilapidated and needed to be completely rebuilt for the celebration of Thang Long-Hanoi’s 1000th anniversary next year. But an official of Dinh Bang Ward, who wished to remain anonymous, told a different story. “The temple was not as dilapidated as the ward’s People’s Committee said it was when they reported to higher authorities,” the official said. The gate of the temple will also be destroyed as part of the “restoration” project He said parts of the temple had in fact been renovated as recently as last year before the site was conferred a Historic Heritage title by the local government. Retiling was the only work that needed to be done, he said, adding that the structure could have been kept the same. A local resident agreed that reconstruction was not necessary, saying many residents had already contributed their own money to repair minor damage to the temple. “It is unbelievable. They demolished the temple right after holding a ceremony to receive the Historical Heritage certificate,” he said. Do Thi Hao, chairwoman of the Hanoi Folk Arts Association, said she was frustrated by the affair. “Many similar ‘reconstructions’ have been done in the name of restoration,” she said. Meanwhile, Nguyen Thac Vinh, chairman of the Dinh Bang People’s Committee board overseeing the restoration project, said the temple was in very bad shape and reconstruction was necessary. He said the point of the project was to restore the temple to its original form as several major changes had been made over the years. Vinh told the Vietnam News Agency that Rong Temple had been rebuilt several times over the years, arguing that the entire five-room structure had been completely rebuilt only 30 years ago. He said the only “ancient” things at the temple were the bricks that made up the building’s foundation. Now, only the temple’s front gate and courtyard remain. “We’ll also have to destroy the gate and reconstruct it in its original shape,” said Vinh. Nguyen Dang Tuc, director of Bac Ninh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, supported Vinh and said the most precious items at the temple were those kept inside, not the actual structure as it was no longer the same building that had been erected during the Ly Dynasty. But according to the 2001 Cultural Heritage Law, Historic Heritage sites may only be renovated, not destroyed and completely rebuilt. However, Vinh said the committee had been granted a permit to raze the temple in 2007, before the site had garnered the Historic Heritage certificate early this year. The Rong Temple had been built as a shrine to Empress Ly Chieu Hoang, Vietnam’s only queen regnant, who reigned from 1224-1225. Reported by Viet Chien - Si Ta