Model in preserving and promoting the value of My Son cultural heritage

After 25 years of being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage, My Son has become a complex of Champa architecture with intact tower groups and a rich intangible cultural treasure.

Ruined temple complex honored as heritage

25 years ago, on December 4, 1999, the My Son temple complex was honored as a World Cultural Heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This is an affirmation of the pinnacle values ​​of history, culture, and architectural art of the Champa civilization that flourished in human history. It is a great source of pride for the people of the whole country in general, and the government and people of Quang Nam province and Duy Xuyen district in particular.

Tower H was restored by Indian experts (Photo: Anh Khoa).

From a relic devastated by time and war, the My Son temple complex today is no longer a desolate ruin but has become a Champa architectural complex with its original appearance. A typical example of conservation work is the restoration project of tower group G, under the 3-party cooperation program between the Italian Government, UNESCO and Vietnam. In 2011-2015, the Institute for Monuments Conservation implemented the E7 tower restoration project. In addition, the project to preserve and restore the A, H, K temple tower groups at the My Son relic site also received support from the Indian Government. The construction of the My Son research exhibition house was sponsored by the Japanese organization JICA...

Mr. Nguyen Cong Khiet - Director of the My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board - said that since the early days of My Son being named a World Cultural Heritage, leaders at all levels have determined that conservation must be given top priority, conservation must not conflict with promotion, effective conservation and active promotion. Conservation and promotion in the right direction must be the most optimal and effective way of conservation, so that the relic retains its original value, ensuring the most authenticity on the basis of conservation principles according to the Convention, the United Nations Charter and the Law on Cultural Heritage of Vietnam. Many programs, plans and development goals have been outlined, scientific research, restoration and archaeological research have been carried out synchronously. In particular, international cooperation is taken as the focus with many programs and projects.

Foreign tourists scan the QR code for multilingual explanations. Tourists explore and listen to the explanations on their mobile phones (Photo: Anh Khoa).

"We have achieved extremely important results, of outstanding significance in the restoration of Cham relics in Central Vietnam, becoming a model of restoration in the whole country. Not only that, traditional values ​​of intangible culture, traditional Cham folk culture are also cared for, preserved, at the same time serving tourists and contributing to spreading the spiritual cultural values ​​of the locality", Mr. Nguyen Cong Khiet expressed.

My Son is a model in heritage conservation

Mr. Nguyen Cong Khiet also affirmed that after 25 years of continuous efforts, the work of preserving and promoting the value of the My Son World Heritage Site has achieved remarkable successes, My Son has developed in a positive and sustainable direction. From a deserted land, a relic forgotten during a long period of destruction by bombs and war, My Son has awakened, becoming a bright spot in the work of restoration, embellishment and attracting tourists.

Excavation and restoration work at tower group K (Photo: Anh Khoa).

The value of My Son is increasingly important in political, economic and social life, the pride of the people, the soft power that influences culture to the outside. The contributions of many generations, many people from many countries have devoted immense love to this heritage, such as architect Kazic, Italian and Indian experts... They have made great, persistent contributions and even sacrifices for the cause of preserving and promoting the values ​​of Vietnamese heritage. In addition to preserving tangible cultural values, the intangible cultural values ​​of My Son are also focused on and promoted. The Cham folk art troupe constantly develops, adding unique folk dance performances. These activities attract tourists, while preserving and conserving precious traditional cultural assets, contributing to creating unique cultural tourism products of My Son.

Cham dance under the ancient tower (Photo: Anh Khoa).

With continuous efforts, the number of tourists to My Son Sanctuary has increased sharply in recent years, with an average annual growth rate of over 10%. This creates important resources for management, restoration, infrastructure improvement and development of new types of tourism, suitable for the heritage space. Mr. Ho Quang Buu - Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee - said that with the achievements of My Son over the past 25 years, it is necessary to provide orientations for this relic site to continue promoting the achieved results. In our country, Quang Nam is the only province with 3 world titles recognized by UNESCO, including 2 World Cultural Heritages: Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Sanctuary, and Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve. Both World Cultural Heritages: Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Sanctuary were recognized by UNESCO on December 4, 1999. That further affirms the cultural depth with many unique, outstanding characteristics, imbued with the identity of Quang Nam land, which is the pride of the people of Hoi An city and Duy Xuyen district. The Vice Chairman of the Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee emphasized the importance of mobilizing domestic and foreign support resources, to continue to achieve greater success in preserving and promoting the value of this unique cultural heritage. Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/hinh-mau-trong-bao-ton-va-phat-huy-gia-tri-di-san-van-hoa-my-son-20241212171414900.htm