Waiting for planning worthy of My Son heritage

My Son Sanctuary (Thu Bon Commune) was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage in 1999. Photo: QUOC TUA

A corner of My Son Temple Complex. Photo: QUOC TUAN

The stature of a monument

The special national monument My Son Temple Complex is currently one of two World Cultural Heritages recognized by UNESCO in Da Nang city.

My Son is a relic recognized as a World Cultural Heritage in Vietnam based on two criteria. The first criterion is an outstanding example of cultural exchange with integration into indigenous culture. External cultural influences, especially Hindu architectural art from the Indian subcontinent.

Next to that is the criterion of vividly reflecting the development process of Champa cultural history in Southeast Asian cultural history.

My Son Temple Complex is also identified to contain many typical values including: Historical, cultural, archaeological and architectural values; biodiversity landscape values; exploitation and development valuesof tourism and services; values and roles as a core connection and driving force for development.

In which, in the role of connecting nucleus, My Son Temple Complex is located in the cultural value system of Da Nang city and in the system of Champa relics in the Central provinces as well as the system of other heritages in the region.

In 2024, the relic site will welcome more than 450,000 visitors, with total tourism revenue reaching more than 70 billion VND. According to general assessment, this number is still quite modest and has not fully exploited the potential and value of My Son heritage.

According to Mr. Nguyen Cong Khiet, Deputy Director in charge of the My Son World Cultural Heritage Management Board, the number of visitors to My Son is currently much lower than the ancient town of Hoi An; however, compared to some other world cultural heritages in the country with similar characteristics such as Thang Long Imperial Citadel or Ho Dynasty Citadel, My Son's revenue is currently higher.

In the context that the planning for the conservation and promotion of the value of My Son Relic Site for the period 2008 - 2020 has expired, a comprehensive planning for this special national relic is an urgent requirement to preserve and promote the value of My Son heritage in the new context.

The planning aims to preserve, renovate and restore the values of the special national relic My Son Temple Complex; continue to be an attractive cultural tourist destination; protect forest resources, biodiversity and community cultural heritage in the planning study area on the basis of inheriting the objectives of the old planning project.

Determine the route

According to the decision made by the Prime Minister at the end of June 2025 approving the task of planning the preservation, restoration and rehabilitation of the My Son Temple Complex (referred to as the planning task), the planning scale is the entire area of 1,158 hectares, including protected zones I and II of this relic.

A corner of My Son Temple Complex. Illustration photo: Q.T

The scale of planning for preservation, restoration and rehabilitation of the My Son Temple Complex is the entire area of 1,158 hectares, including protected zones I and II of this relic. Photo: QUOC TUAN

Some problems from the old planning project have been identified and are expected to be adjusted and established in the new project. Notably, the heritage site still does not have a unified database system that is centrally stored, serving as a scientific foundation for the work of restoration, conservation and promotion of the value of the heritage site.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Khiet informed that the My Son planning for the period 2008 - 2020 mainly applies to the core area of the relic, there is no service area in Khe The area.

The art house was built in 2002 before the planning was done. After the planning was done, it could not be built because the exploration area had Cham architecture, so it was necessary to choose another suitable location to integrate into the new planning.

In addition, recently there has been an idea to build a statue park to honor ancestors in My Son, but it is not yet in the planning.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (VH-TT&DL) of Da Nang city, due to Decision No. 1404 dated June 27, 2025 of the Prime Minister, the maximum time for planning is 24 months from the date the planning task is approved.

Plan to implement steps of survey, measurement, preliminary archaeology, planning; collect comments, complete planning documents; report to the City People's Committee and city leaders on planning; complete documents after reporting, submit for appraisal and approval, expected to be implemented within 17 months.

Accordingly, it is expected that by the end of 2027, the dossier will be completed after appraisal and reported to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for submission to the Prime Minister for approval.

At the recent working session on My Son planning, Vice Chairwoman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi assigned the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to be the investor to establish a plan for the preservation, restoration and rehabilitation of the special national relic My Son Temple Complex.

At the same time, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is requested to preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies and units to advise the City People's Committee on implementing solutions so that the My Son Sanctuary National Special Monument continues to be an attractive cultural tourist destination; connecting with the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, other historical - cultural relics and scenic spots in the city.

Thereby forming a chain of tourism products combined with environmental protection, contributing to the socio-economic development of Da Nang city in general and Thu Bon commune in particular.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/cho-quy-hoach-xung-tam-di-san-my-son-3300322.html