The Thai Duong clock was designed and created by engineer/physicist Luu Van Lang (1880 – 1969) from Dong Thap province in 1913. The relic, the only one of its kind in the country, is located on 30/4 Street (Ward 3, Bac Lieu City).

The clock is just a 5-minute walk away from the Prince of Bac Lieu's house, which is also a favorite destination.  Prince of Bac Lieu was the most generous and luxurious "playboy" in the south during this time.

The building is made of bricks. On the face of the clock, there is an edge of a rectanglular block jutting out, while the other part is a square block, balanced on both sides. There are also the Roman numerals from I to XII to indicate the hours.

When the sun shines on the edge, it divides the watch face into two parts, bright and dark. The boundary between the two parts is the hour hand of the clock.

According to the Bac Lieu Provincial Museum, this is the only remaining clock that tells time by sunlight in Vietnam. Notably, it has a high accuracy level with a difference of just 5-7 minutes compared with standard clocks.

In 2006, the Bac Lieu People's Committee listed Thai Duong clock as a provincial historical-cultural relic that needs to be preserved and promoted for its high value.

More than 100 years have elapsed since it was built, and the clock’s surface, exposed to sun and rain, has eroded and flaked off, making it difficult to see the Roman numerals. The back and surrounding sides of the clock are covered with black moss.

The provincial authorities said restoration will not only help preserve the relic but also attract tourists.

Under the local government's restoration plan, the marble foundation will be removed, and an excavation hole will be dug to determine the original site (the excavation hole has an expected diameter of 12 meters and a depth of 1 meter).

After the original site is defined, the processing of the foundation will begin. A three-step staircase will be built, and a fence system will be installed to protect the relic, and a water collection system will be used to prevent floods.

It is expected that the restoration would cost VND800 million. The plan has been put on the table of the province’s leaders.

Tinh Le