Dr Pham Huu My, Director of the department's Centre for Preservation and Development of Historic-Cultural Values of Relics, which did the task as part of a five-year programme on the city's historical-cultural values of relics, said there are 83 sites in the list. Of them, a historic relic and seven art architectural relics will be proposed for recognition as national relics, he said.

"The inventory and recommendation will play a key role in the preservation and development of historical-cultural relics in the city because with recognition they will get legal and scientific support," he said.

Also under the project, the 140 existing national and city-level relics were carefully studied for encroachment and degradation so that measures can be taken to stop them.

Nearly 30 are proposed to be restored at an estimated cost of VND353.5 billion (USD18.6 million), most of them architectural relics dating back hundreds of years.

The department will submit its recommendations to the city People's Committee for recognition as national or city-level relics, Vu Kim Anh, Deputy Director of the department, said.

"The outcome of the project will be a key factor in drawing up the 2010-20 zoning plan for preservation and development of relics in the city," Anh said. The city's existing relics include one special national relic, the Reunification Palace , and 53 national relics.