Workshop on research and orientation for conservation and promotion of the value of Truong Luy relic in Gia Lai province

(gialai.gov.vn) - On the morning of August 25, at Hai Au Hotel, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (VHTTDL) of Gia Lai province coordinated with the Institute of Social Sciences of the Southern Region (under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences) to organize a scientific workshop with the theme: "Research on the value and orientation for conservation and promotion of the value of Truong Luy relic in Gia Lai province" and a preliminary report on the results of archaeological excavation of Truong Luy relic.

Attending the workshop, on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and central research agencies and organizations, there were: Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Van Liem - Member of the National Cultural Heritage Council, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Archaeological Association, former Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology; Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Chi Hoang - Member of the National Cultural Heritage Council, former Deputy Director of the Southern Institute of Social Sciences (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences); Dr. Nguyen Khanh Trung Kien - Deputy Director of the Southern Institute of Social Sciences (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences).

On the side of Gia Lai province, attending the workshop were comrades: Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich - Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Vo Hoang Binh - Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department; Do Thi Dieu Hanh - Provincial Party Committee member, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Attending the workshop were also representatives of leaders of departments, agencies, associations and unions of the province; People's Committees of wards and communes with relics including: Hoai Nhon Bac ward, An Lao commune and An Hoa commune. Along with experts and scientists researching Truong Luy.

Conference Scene

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Ms. Do Thi Dieu Hanh - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that the workshop aimed to comprehensively study the value of Truong Luy in Gia Lai province; assess the position, role and unique characteristics of this Truong Luy section in the overall Truong Luy system. At the same time, this is a scientific basis for proposing directions for preserving and promoting the value of the relic in a sustainable manner, in accordance with reality, towards preparing a dossier to submit to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to rank Truong Luy Gia Lai as a national relic.

According to the report at the workshop, Truong Luy is a special historical rampart, including: rampart - ancient road - moat - fortification system, with a total length of the entire route from Quang Ngai to Gia Lai of about 127.4km. Of which, the rampart section in Gia Lai province is about 14.4km long, located at an altitude of 400 - 800m above sea level, stretching from Hoai Nhon Bac ward to An Lao and An Hoa communes. The project was built mainly of earth and stone, formed during the Nguyen lords' reign and completed under the reign of King Gia Long, playing the role of a large-scale defense system in the border area.

In June 2025, in order to complete the research and conservation dossier of the relic, and propose to rank the Truong Luy section passing through Binh Dinh province (old), Binh Dinh Museum (now Gia Lai Museum) coordinated with the Southern Institute of Social Sciences to conduct an archaeological survey and excavation at a number of locations in An Lao commune, with a total area of ​​200m², according to Decision No. 1419/QD-BVHTTDL dated May 19, 2025 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The results of surveys and excavations at sites such as Fort H4, Truong Luy, Fort Dong Ham and Fort An Quang have provided many important documents, contributing to clarifying the construction techniques and defensive structures of the fortification system. The findings show that the construction techniques in this area demonstrate a flexible combination of indigenous materials and traditional defensive techniques, while adapting well to natural terrain conditions.

Notably, the discovery of the watchtower at the Dong Ham and H4 Forts has a circular structure at the intersection of two walls, a flat stone foundation and an open surface, which has many similarities with the watchtower architecture at Thu Fort - a large fort in the same system. These similarities show the unity in the organization of the defensive space, with elements such as corridors for soldiers, outer protective trenches and a system of surrounding walls.

The workshop is an important step in building a scientific and practical foundation to preserve and honor the historical and cultural values ​​of Truong Luy Gia Lai, while promoting the process of compiling dossiers to rank national relics in the coming time.

Vice President of Gia Lai Provincial Historical Association Tran Quoc Tuan spoke at the Workshop

At the workshop, delegates listened to researchers present papers on: Gia Lai Ramparts perceive some issues of historical and cultural value; historical value and significance of Ramparts in the overall perspective of rampart construction, security control and border governance policy of Nguyen Dynasty; experience in preserving Quang Ngai Ramparts system; orientation for preserving and promoting the value of Gia Lai Ramparts relic associated with tourism development and traditional education.

Speaking at the workshop, Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich emphasized: The value of Truong Luy is especially important, it is scientific and convincing evidence of the process of expanding the territory of our ancestors. The fact that the younger generation can learn and directly witness Truong Luy will contribute significantly to the education of historical values, thereby raising awareness of preserving, building and protecting the Fatherland in the current period.

Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich spoke at the Workshop

Regarding the recommendations of experts and researchers at the workshop, the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized that this is an important basis, opening up further responsibility for the province in building a relic dossier with many key tasks in the coming time.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested relevant departments, branches and units to continue to conduct research in a comprehensive, synchronous, systematic and inter-regional manner not only in Quang Ngai and Gia Lai but also expand to other localities if there are similar relics of Truong Luy. At the same time, he requested localities to preserve, delimit and set up markers to protect the relic, avoiding losing its integrity, causing difficulties for research and conservation work. In addition, it is necessary to clearly identify the items that need to be protected intact to have a basis for building tourism projects, aiming at the goal of both preserving and promoting the value of the relic effectively and sustainably.

Comrade Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich also expressed her hope that scientists will continue to expand their research on the Long Luy on a larger scale, not only limited to the territory of Binh Dinh (old) or Quang Ngai provinces, but also in areas where similar rampart systems are likely to exist across the country.

Dr. Nguyen Khanh Trung Kien - Deputy Director of the Southern Institute of Social Sciences delivered a concluding speech.

Concluding the workshop, Dr. Nguyen Khanh Trung Kien emphasized: “Gia Lai Citadel is not only a heritage of the past, but also a valuable cultural asset and resource that we inherit from our ancestors, to continue to preserve and pass on to future generations. The results achieved by the workshop today are an important scientific and practical basis, the beginning of a new journey in awakening and sustainably promoting the value of this heritage. That responsibility does not belong to anyone, but requires the joint efforts and contributions of scientists, authorities at all levels and especially the local community.”

Source: https://gialai.gov.vn/tin-tuc/hoat-dong-cua-lanh-dao/hoi-thao-nghien-cuu-gia-tri-va-dinh-huong-bao-ton-phat-huy-gia-tri-di-tich-truong-luy-tinh-gia-lai.html