Attending the inauguration ceremony was State Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan and the leaders of a number of ministries and agencies as well as local residents.

The construction of Lac Long Quan Temple began in 2007 at the Hung Kings Temple’s Sim Hill, about 1km from Nghia Linh Mountain.

Sim Hill looks like a giant turtle, with a dragon and a tiger on its sides, facing Hoc Trai Lake and the Red River. That the temple is located on a turtle’s back represents divinity and mystery to worshipers.

The VND140 billion complex comprises of three areas: the major temple, which sits on 9,000sq.m, an area for receiving guests and the management board and gardens and other buildings that altogether account for more than 100,000sq.m.

The interior of the major temple is made of iron wood and houses a bronze statue of Lac Long Quan sitting on a throne.

The statue, which weighs 1.8 tonnes and stands 1.98m high, resides on a stone pedestal, carved with designs of the Dong Son Culture.

The historical Hung Kings Temple is situated in the Nghia Linh Mountain in Lam Thao District, Phu Tho province, 100km northwest of Hanoi.