Quang Nam: Proposing focal agency to coordinate the implementation of the project to preserve My Son F tower

The People's Committee of Quang Nam province has just issued Official Letter No. 6410/UBND-KGVX requesting the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the People's Committee of Duy Xuyen district to give their opinions on the proposal of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and propose the focal agency of the province to implement the conservation and restoration of the F tower area in My Son, Quang Nam province.

Accordingly, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Nam province assigned the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to preside over and coordinate with the People's Committee of Duy Xuyen district to study the Letter of Intent on the conservation and restoration of the F tower area in My Son between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the Republic of India and the proposed content of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Official Dispatch No. 3505 (dated August 19, 2024).

Comment on the proposal of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and propose the provincial focal agency to implement the conservation and restoration of the F tower area in My Son, Quang Nam province; advise the Provincial People's Committee to respond to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

F1 My Son Tower is in a state of severe damage and is being protected.

It is known that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has issued Official Dispatch No. 3505 to the People's Committee of Quang Nam province regarding the implementation of the Letter of Intent on the conservation and restoration of Tower F in My Son.

The dispatch stated that 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 Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the Republic of India.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism requests that the People's Committee of Quang Nam be the focal agency to coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to work directly with the focal agency on the Indian side to implement the contents of the Letter of Intent, periodically report to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to synthesize and report to the Government according to regulations.

Previously, the People's Committee of Quang Nam province sent an official dispatch to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, agreeing with the Letter of Intent on the project to preserve and restore Tower F at My Son temple complex proposed by India.

According to the People's Committee of Quang Nam province, up to now, the outstanding global values ​​of My Son World Cultural Heritage Site have been preserved intact according to the 1972 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage as well as relevant documents of the Vietnamese Government.

My Son Tower Group A restored with support from Indian Government and experts

In particular, the cooperation project between the two governments of Vietnam and India in the conservation and restoration of tower groups A, K, H at My Son in the period of 2016-2022 has achieved positive results. These tower groups after restoration have been highly appreciated by domestic and international experts and tourists.

In December 2020, the Prime Ministers of Vietnam and India issued the Vietnam-India Joint Vision Statement on Peace, Prosperity and People. The two governments signed 7 agreements, memorandums of understanding and 3 programs to enhance bilateral cooperation.

In particular, the Indian Government agreed to fund the project to preserve and promote the value of the F tower group in the My Son World Cultural Heritage Site.

Following the Joint Vision Statement between the Governments of Vietnam and India, the People's Committee of Quang Nam province has closely coordinated with the Embassy of India to implement the agreed content.

During the period from 2020 to 2023, the People's Committee of Quang Nam province welcomed and worked with a delegation of experts from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) regarding the development of a project report on the restoration and conservation of tower group F at My Son Cultural Heritage.

In November 2023, a group of Indian experts returned to My Son. During two months, the Indian experts coordinated with a number of technical staff from the My Son Heritage Management Board to conduct research and supplement the records at the two groups of towers E and F of My Son before officially proceeding with conservation and restoration.

Tower group F includes two architectural works, F1 and F2, of which tower F1, dating back to the 8th-9th century, is the most severely damaged tower area. Most of the bricks on the tower walls have faded, turned pale yellow, and are crumbling, with many places showing signs of soil restoration.

Preliminary conclusions drawn from the survey are that most of the monuments (except tower E7 which was restored by the Institute for Monument Conservation in 2011-2013), the remaining structures in E, F and A' are in a state of severe damage.

To keep the tower from collapsing, many years ago, the My Son Heritage Management Board coordinated with relevant units to weld an iron frame around the tower to hold the tower wall against collapse, and at the same time erected a corrugated iron roof above to limit the impact of rain and sun.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/quang-namde-xuat-co-quan-dau-moi-phoi-hop-trien-khai-du-an-bao-ton-thap-f-my-son-20240903165741765.htm