Preserving and promoting My Son heritage

My Son World Cultural Heritage site seen from above.

My Son World Cultural Heritage site seen from above.

Over 25 years since being recognized as a World Cultural Heritage, thanks to the right conservation strategy, My Son has become a model in the conservation and promotion of heritage values, worthy of being a precious cultural, historical and architectural asset of humanity.

MODEL IN CONSERVATION WORK

Built from the end of the 4th century to the 13th century with more than 70 temple and tower structures, My Son heritage is an architectural complex with the pinnacle values of cultural history, architectural art of the Champa civilization that once flourished in history. Although heavily damaged by time and war, the remaining relics in My Son still play an important role in the world's cultural, architectural and architectural heritage.

Over the past 25 years, thanks to the support and extensive cooperation with international organizations and domestic agencies such as UNESCO, JICA (Japan), Lerici Foundation (Italy), ASI Institute (India); Governments of Italy, India, Poland; Institute for Monuments Conservation, Institute of Archaeology, Department of Cultural Heritage... most of the architectural works of temples and towers in My Son have been preserved and restored firmly. Typical examples include the tripartite cooperation project of UNESCO-Vietnam-Italy on reinforcing against degradation and gradually reshaping the original state of tower group G; Khe The stream archaeological excavation project; E7 tower restoration project; Project to preserve and restore tower groups K, H, A under the Indian project... which have contributed significantly to reviving the My Son temple and tower architecture system after hundreds of years of oblivion.

Notably, the Project to preserve and restore the tower groups K, H, A under the Indian project, implemented from 2016-2022, has restored, excavated, and achieved important results; including the A1 architecture - My Son masterpiece (24m high) being restored to its original appearance. During the implementation process, 734 valuable artifacts were discovered, of which the My Son A10 altar was recognized as a National Treasure in 2022. Director of the My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board Nguyen Cong Khiet shared that the implementation process has contributed to improving the management and professional capacity of the staff, creating conditions for building and forming a skilled workforce in relic conservation. The completion of the restoration and embellishment of the three tower groups K, H, A not only overcomes the damage and degradation of the relics but also contributes to restoring and perfecting the architectural space of the My Son Temple Complex. The assistance and cooperation of domestic and foreign organizations has demonstrated a model in the conservation of Cham temples, especially ancient brick materials of the Cham people.

Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam province Nguyen Thanh Hong assessed that over the past 25 years, the management and conservation of My Son heritage has achieved extremely important results. The legal basis for the conservation of My Son has been increasingly consolidated, direct intervention through restoration and embellishment work has helped the relic architecture gradually move out of the dilapidated state, moving to a stable and sustainable stage. The cooperation process has created valuable premises and experiences in the management, conservation and restoration of Cham architectural relics in general and My Son in particular.

PROMOTING HERITAGE VALUES

In 1979, My Son Temple Complex was ranked as a National Monument; in 2009, it was recognized as a Special National Monument. On December 4, 1999, UNESCO officially recognized My Son as a World Cultural Heritage; currently, it is one of 8 World Cultural Heritages in Vietnam.

Along with conservation, the promotion of My Son heritage values has also achieved remarkable success with important results from infrastructure investment to tourism product development, attracting visitors, and developing community tourism. If 20 years ago, each year there were only a few hundred tourists visiting My Son, now it has reached more than 450,000. In the past few years, the average growth rate has been over 10%, the number of tourists has expanded, and the market has become more and more diverse. In 2024, the number of tourists to My Son increased by over 21%; revenue from tourism services reached over 70 billion VND.

Chairman of Duy Xuyen District People's Committee Phan Xuan Canh said that in recent years, the management, protection and promotion of the value of My Son Temple Complex relics have always received attention and guidance from central ministries and branches; especially the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Department of Cultural Heritage, the Institute for Monuments Conservation and relevant agencies under the ministry. The number of visitors always exceeding the annual target has contributed to the development of the local socio-economy, increased budget revenue, and at the same time ensured a stable life and income for cadres, civil servants and workers; thereby improving material and spiritual life, implementing welfare and social security policies and reinvesting in heritage conservation work.

In addition to the attention to tangible culture, intangible cultural values are also preserved, maintained and promoted by the locality. In addition to continuing to invest, research and consolidate scientific bases to preserve and maintain intangible culture in a land with a strong Cham cultural imprint, the work of promoting Cham folk values is regularly paid attention to. Over the past 25 years, the most outstanding value of the work of preserving intangible culture is the successful construction of the My Son Cham dance brand. The unit also organizes and develops art programs to serve events and festivals such as Mysterious My Son Night; Heritage Journey 1, 2, 3; Spring Festival program next to the ancient tower, Heritage Festival; events celebrating 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years of being recognized by UNESCO... creating unique tourism products and cultural events.

The Party Committee and the government of Quang Nam province and Duy Xuyen district have issued resolutions, programs and plans to effectively carry out the task of preserving and promoting the value of My Son heritage with a medium and long-term vision; creating favorable conditions for the conservation and development of tourism in My Son. According to the Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam province, Nguyen Thanh Hong, the work of promoting heritage values with defined tourism products has affirmed the brand and destination of My Son heritage on the tourism map of Quang Nam and central Vietnam, with the ability to spread to neighboring areas. This harmoniously resolves the conservation and promotion of heritage values with improving people's lives, especially those living in the heritage area. People are increasingly responsible for the heritage, contributing to the socio-economic development of the locality and increasing budget revenue.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/bao-ton-va-phat-huy-di-san-my-son-post871246.html