A sapphire turtle made by the DOJI Gold and Gems Group was presented to the Hanoi People's Committee as a gift for the city's millennial anniversary on October 3. 

The Giant Precious Sapphire Turtle has spiritual meaning as a symbol of longevity and peace, said DOJI general director Do Minh Phu.

Its natural blue and reddish brown colours give it a unique beauty, he said.
The two-tonne turtle, made from a monolithic sapphire, took artisans 200 days to complete.

Legend says a turtle helped King An Duong Vuong build Co Loa Citadel in the 3rd century BC while King Le Thai To (1385-1433) returned a precious sword to a tortoise in Hoan Kiem or "Returned Sword" Lake after using it to defeat invaders.