A man in the southern province of Vinh Long has found a statue dated around 1,400 years old and worth roughly VND7.5 billion (USD340,909).

The statue was discovered by Le Van Thong from Hoa Thanh Commune, Tam Binh District while he was dredging sand in Co Chien River. Thong handed over the object to Phuoc An Pagoda, and the pagoda then transferred it to Vinh Long Museum.

Certificates of merit along with a VND75-million (USD3,409) bonus for Thong and the pagoda.

On Thursday, the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the museum granted certificates of merit along with a VND75-million (USD3,409) bonus for Thong and the pagoda.

According to archaeologists, it is the Hindu goddess named Saraswati, wife of Hindu God Brahma. The Saraswati statue is very rare and its type has not previously been found in Southeast Asia.

The statue is 140cm high and made of sandstone dating from the 7th century. It has been valued at VND7.5 billion.

( VNF/DTnews )