Hanoi’s authorities have turned down the proposal of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to build a statue of King Kong in the blockbuster film Kong: Skull Island near Hoan Kiem Lake.
According to deputy director of Hanoi's Culture, Sports and Tourism Department Truong Minh Tien, Hoan Kiem Lake is a special national heritage site so any activity must be carefully considered before being carried out there.
Hanoi rejects King Kong statue near Hoan Kiem Lake
“After seeking the opinion from experts and the public, we found it would be inappropriate to build a Kong statue at the Statue of Soldiers area near Ba Kieu Temple or the near to the lake,” Tien added.
He noted that Hanoi authorities suggested that any statues of Kong should be put at parks, cinemas or at the three provinces of Quang Binh, Ninh Binh and Quang Ninh where the film was shot.
Earlier, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism co-operated with the film distribution firm to organise a range of activities to promote the country’s tourism sector.
The ministry has proposed Hanoi authorities to construct a 3-dimensional model of King Kong at the pedestrianised area around Hoan Kiem Lake.
At a press conference on March 13 in Hanoi, director of the blockbuster film Kong: Skull Island Jordan Vogt-Roberts said he was honoured to be Vietnam’s tourism ambassador and will try his best to help promote Vietnamese tourism.
