Vietnam will invest more than ever on restoring and preserving architecture, historical sites, landscapes and areas that are deemed culturally significant to the country as part of a new cultural development plan up to 2010.

Under the new initiative that recently won approval from Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, the focus will be on intangible heritage works besides conserving villages and rebuilding festivals of ethnic groups scattered throughout the country.

In addition, the country is set to submit five intangible cultural works for recognition by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The cultural development programme, which also includes building cultural houses and libraries at localities, requires a budget of more than VND4.54 trillion (US$283.8 million).