Golden statues of Saint Giong make debut in Hanoi   A golden statue of Saint Giong (Photo: suckhoedoisong.vn) Two golden statues of Saint Giong was introduced to the public at a ceremony held at Hanoi Opera House in Hanoi on August 19. They are part of a project to cast 60 statues of this kind to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the capital’s Liberation Day (October 10). The statues, made of gold-plated pure copper by traditional methods, were engraved elaborate patterns based on the prototype Saint Giong Statue placed in Soc Temple in Hanoi’s Son Son district. Each weighs approximately 60 kg and stands 80 cm high. Speaking at the ceremony, historian Duong Trung Quoc, general secretary of the Vietnam Association of Historical Science said that the Saint Giong Statue in Soc Temple has been considered a cultural symbol of the city for many years, adding that the project helps promote and honour the nation’s traditional culture values. Once all the 60 statues are completed, a ritual blessing for peace and happiness is scheduled to be held at Soc Temple. The statues will be displayed at the Hanoi Opera House from October 3-5 along with a photo exhibition on Hanoi after a procession of them from Soc Temple to Sword Lake. One statue will be presented to the Vietnam Fatherland Front for auction to raise funds for fishermen. As the legend goes, Saint Giong was born to a single woman after she put her foot on a giant footprint in the field. However, the boy could not speak, laugh or cry despite he was three years old. Upon hearing the news of an invasion from the North, he asked the King to grant him an iron horse, an iron stick and an iron armour. When the things were brought to him, the boy turned into a giant and used the weapons to defeat the aggressors to save his country and people. After that he rode his horse to fly up the heaven. Until these days, he has been worshipped as an immortal.-VNA