An Giang determined to bring Oc Eo - Ba The relic to the world

Go Cay Thi relic at Oc Eo - Ba The relic site. Photo: PHUONG LAN

By the end of October 2025, An Giang had completed sending the draft nomination dossier for the Oc Eo - Ba The Archaeological Site to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre for preliminary comments. In the next phase of the fourth quarter of 2025, the province is determined to complete the official version of the nomination dossier before December 15, 2025. The key work is to edit and receive comments from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, central ministries and branches, the National Cultural Heritage Council and prepare to receive preliminary assessment comments from the World Heritage Centre.

In order to ensure the integrity of the heritage, the Oc Eo Cultural Relics Management Board proposed to transfer the two relics of Giong Xoai and Nen Chua to the Oc Eo Cultural Relics Management Board for direct management, and at the same time allow the adjustment of the protection zone, establish a project for site clearance at Giong Xoai and supplement funds for restoration and renovation at the Oc Eo Cultural Exhibition House to be ready to serve the UNESCO delegation for inspection in 2026.

Concluding the meeting on November 7, 2025, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Van Phuoc emphasized that the development of nomination dossiers is an important political task. The Oc Eo Cultural Relics Management Board strengthens coordination with relevant units to implement with the spirit of "6 clear" (clear people, clear work, clear time, clear responsibility, clear products, clear authority) in developing detailed daily and weekly progress plans. In addition, it is necessary to urge the contractor of package No. 3 to urgently complete the official version of the nomination dossier before December 15, 2025 to submit to the Prime Minister and central ministries and branches for consideration and approval before sending to the World Heritage Center.

The provincial leaders agreed to hand over the two relic sites of Giong Xoai and Nen Chua (My Thuan commune) to the Oc Eo Cultural Relic Management Board for management to ensure consistency in heritage management and develop nomination dossiers. At the same time, the Management Board was approved to adjust the protection zones of the Oc Eo - Ba The, Nen Chua, and Giong Xoai relics as a basis for advising on the establishment of a project to reclaim and clear the land at Giong Xoai and invest in a number of landscape improvement items.

According to Dr. Truong Dac Chien - National History Museum, adjusting the protection zone of the Oc Eo - Ba The archaeological site is an urgent action to meet UNESCO's requirements. Mr. Chien proposed a new zoning plan focusing on 3 core zones and Nen Chua, with the idea of merging these zones into a common buffer zone covering the entire Ba The mountain area and Oc Eo field to ensure integrity.

In addition to technical work, propaganda work and creating social consensus are also issues that need attention and priority in the current period. According to the roadmap, around June or July 2026, a UNESCO expert delegation will come to conduct field surveys and appraise records at relic sites. Experts can interview any local people, students or grassroots officials to assess the level of understanding and consensus of the community towards the Oc Eo heritage. Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department Ly Ngoc Dinh emphasized the need to develop a comprehensive and continuous communication plan on many channels from the press to school education , ensuring consistent information on the responsibility to preserve and the practical benefits of the heritage.

Completing the dossier of the Oc Eo - Ba The National Special Monument is a strategic task, opening up great potential for An Giang tourism development and international research.

The Oc Eo - Ba The relic site has an area of over 433 hectares, including area A (Ba The mountain) and area B (Oc Eo field), which is continuing to be expanded according to the request of the World Heritage Council, in accordance with document No. 169, dated November 14, 2025 of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO. This place is confirmed to be the ancient urban center of Oc Eo of the kingdom of Phu Nam from the 2nd - 7th century AD, the core of the formation of Oc Eo culture.

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