"Saving" the last damaged towers of My Son

The project to preserve the E and F towers of My Son has officially been implemented since mid-March 2025. Photo: MY SON

Mr. Nguyen Cong Khiet - Director of My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board said that in recent days, Indian experts have been cleaning and scientifically separating the overall area of ​​groups E and F before renovating group F towers, especially tower F1.

“According to the plan, the My Son E and F Tower Group Conservation Project includes the components of conservation and restoration of Group E; conservation and restoration of Group F; drainage system and walkways around Group E and F, with a total project value of 4.852 million USD from non-refundable aid from the Government of India. The project implementation period lasts until 2029. The restoration process is mainly carried out by reinforcing, preserving the original elements firmly, ensuring accuracy” – Mr. Khiet informed.

Area E, F includes 2 groups of towers E and F located close to each other. Of which, tower group E has 8 architectural works (E1, E2, E3, E4, E5, E6, E7, E8). Apart from tower E7 which was renovated in phase (2011 - 2013), most of the remaining works in tower group E are severely degraded and damaged.

F1 My Son Tower taken in 2024. Photo: VINH LOC

Tower F group includes 3 structures F1, F2 and F3. In addition to tower F3 which collapsed and completely disappeared due to wartime bombs, the location of which is currently only known through a diagram, the two structures F1 and F2 are also seriously degraded. The most worrying thing is that tower F1 was excavated in 2003, with no signs of restoration. Currently, the surface is covered, the walls have many cracks, the pale bricks show signs of soil restoration; the wall sections at high risk of collapsing have been supported by iron bars; some small detailed corner edges are at risk of being separated from the larger block...

The project “Preservation and restoration of the World Cultural Heritage of My Son Sanctuary” was signed by the Government of Vietnam and the Government of India on October 28, 2014. Accordingly, in the period 2017 - 2022, the Government of India will sponsor more than 2.2 million USD (nearly 55 billion VND) to restore and reinforce the conservation of towers K, H, A.

During the project implementation, 734 artifacts of various types were collected, notably the stone relief in the A13 tower. In particular, the largest monolithic linga-yoni altar in Vietnam was discovered in the A10 tower (recognized as a national treasure in 2022). In addition, the project also revealed the zodiac road in the K tower area; renovating the landscape in the tower groups, meeting the needs of tourists.

Next, on December 21, 2020, the Prime Minister of Vietnam and the Prime Minister of India issued the Vietnam-India Joint Vision Statement on Peace, Prosperity and People. In the agreements and memorandums signed by the two Governments, the Government of India agreed to fund the "Project to preserve and promote the value of the Dong Duong Buddhist Monastery (Thang Binh) and the My Son F Tower Group.

The successful conservation project of towers E and F will contribute to the revival of My Son (photo taken from a corner of tower E in 2024). Photo: VINH LOC

On August 1, 2024, within the framework of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's state visit to India, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism was authorized by the Government to sign and exchange the Letter of Intent on the conservation and restoration of the F tower complex in My Son between the two Governments of Vietnam and India. Pursuant to Official Dispatch No. 3505 dated August 19, 2024 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the implementation of the Letter of Intent on the conservation and restoration of the F tower complex in My Son, Quang Nam province has a document agreeing to implement it.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Khiet affirmed that the successful implementation of the E and F Tower Conservation Project will contribute significantly to reviving the entire relic site because these are the last damaged towers of My Son today.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/cuu-nhung-den-thap-hu-hai-cuoi-cung-cua-my-son-3150985.html