"The 'passport' to bring the Oc Eo Heritage Site to the world."

The agreement by Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh to submit the scientific dossier "Oc Eo - Ba The Archaeological Site" to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for nomination to the World Heritage list marks an important step in making the once glorious Funan culture a shared asset of humanity.

Báo An Giang•17/02/2026

A delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son conducted a field survey at the Oc Eo - Ba The National Special Historical Site. Photo: Phuong Lan

After the nomination dossier for the Oc Eo - Ba The Archaeological Site was approved by the Deputy Prime Minister for submission to UNESCO, those directly involved in contributing to the dossier are filled with pride and expectation. From the first excavations by French archaeologists in 1944 to the key research projects from 2017 to 2020 carried out by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences – the result of decades of research. “Along with the current feelings of joy, we must be prepared for the important tasks ahead to carry out the evaluation, assessment, and protection of the nomination dossier,” shared Nguyen Van Nhien, Director of the Oc Eo Cultural Relics Management Board.

Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh authorized the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to carefully review and sign the complete dossier for submission to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in accordance with regulations. At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnam National UNESCO Committee were tasked with leading the necessary procedures to ensure the dossier reaches UNESCO before January 30, 2026.

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To convince the World Heritage Council, the nomination dossier focused on two core criteria demonstrating outstanding universal value. Firstly, according to criterion (ii), the Oc Eo - Ba The site is outstanding evidence of the intermingling of human values from the 1st to 7th centuries AD between the indigenous Southeast Asian culture and major civilizations such as India, China, and the Mediterranean. Secondly, according to criterion (iii): The Oc Eo - Ba The archaeological site is exceptionally outstanding evidence of the Oc Eo culture and the Funan civilization – a political, economic, and cultural entity that flourished during the 1st to 7th centuries AD but no longer exists today.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Nhien, the Oc Eo - Ba The archaeological site was discovered and excavated in 1944 by French archaeologists, followed by further research programs in the period of 1980-2000. In particular, the key research project from 2017-2020, carried out by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, has systematically compiled a very large amount of documentation, relics, and artifacts to support the preparation of the World Heritage nomination dossier. “During the nomination process, the addition of the Nền Chùa and Giồng Xoài sites to the nomination dossier was a timely and necessary addition to ensure the integrity and highlight the outstanding universal value of the nominated heritage. In particular, the Nền Chùa site (Mỹ Thuận commune), with its role as a pre-port connecting the Óc Eo urban area to the sea, has further strengthened the convincing evidence for criterion (ii),” Mr. Nhiên said.

Becoming a World Heritage site comes with stringent conservation requirements. An Giang proactively invited leading experts, notably Professor Ichita Shimoda from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), to survey and advise on technical solutions. The chosen approach combines conservation and enhancement of the value of eligible sites, with the construction of shelters for visitors, while areas sensitive to environmental impacts will be technically filled in to protect their original state.

Professor Ichita Shimoda emphasized the need for detailed maps for each area instead of relying solely on aerial photographs as is currently the case. Regarding comparative analysis, the expert suggested adding comparisons with archaeological sites showcasing the Oc Eo culture in the lower Mekong River basin. Furthermore, the dossier should clearly explain why, among numerous archaeological sites in Southern Vietnam, only the main sites at Oc Eo - Ba The were selected as components of the nominated asset. This would clarify "integrity" and affirm "outstanding universal value," addressing any concerns that ICOMOS might raise during the assessment process.

According to the roadmap, after UNESCO receives the dossier at the end of January 2026, the field assessment process will be conducted from June to August 2026 by ICOMOS experts. This is a crucial stage requiring extremely accurate explanations and supplementary information. If all goes smoothly, the dossier of the Oc Eo - Ba The Archaeological Site will be submitted for a formal vote at the 49th session of the World Heritage Committee in 2027.

A well-deserved international title, not only to honor the past but also to preserve an invaluable heritage for future generations, for the Oc Eo - Ba The Archaeological Site.

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The Provincial People's Committee is entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the accuracy of the data and content in the dossier, and strictly adhering to the 1972 World Heritage Convention.

PHUONG LAN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/-chiec-ve-thong-hanh-dua-di-san-oc-eo-ra-the-gioi-a475496.html