The Gò Cây Thị A site at the Óc Eo - Ba Thê archaeological complex. Photo: TRỌNG NGHĨA
One morning, on the trail beside the Oc Eo rice fields, a farm truck carrying agricultural products stopped in front of the sign that read "Protected Area of Historical Sites." The driver looked at the boundary marker, turned the steering wheel to go around it, accepting a slightly longer journey to avoid crossing the historical site. It was a small choice between the path and the rest of history, but it is precisely such choices that constitute preservation. And if one day Oc Eo - Ba The is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the world will see both the site itself and how the community treats it.
World Heritage begins with the responsibility of its people.
When talking about responsibility, people often think of slogans. However, responsibility towards the heritage at Oc Eo - Ba The involves very specific actions that can be done immediately and every day, such as: People complying with legal regulations on the protection of relics; not damaging historical sites; not digging illegally; not buying or selling artifacts; and when discovering artifacts or signs of violations, reporting them to the authorities or management board for timely handling.
The Chợ Thủ carpentry village in Long Điền commune attracts a large number of highly skilled workers. Photo: HẠNH CHÂU
I asked a cultural affairs manager: Why are the regulations so strict? He explained that archaeological heritage has unique characteristics; much of it lies underground and is dependent on the context of its discovery. When people excavate freely, or when artifacts are removed, scientific data is lost. When data is lost, proving authenticity becomes difficult. When authenticity is weak, the dossier will be at a disadvantage during the assessment process.
This explanation clarifies something that many people still misunderstand. World Heritage is not just a sign hung at a gate for photos. World Heritage is a standard of conduct. That standard requires the community to respect the monument, respect historical truth, and respect the regulations protecting it. If the community has not yet formed this standard, the designation will become a burden instead of an opportunity.
The most practical question for the people remains the question of benefit. They cannot live on mere pride. They need a livelihood. That is perfectly legitimate. If Oc Eo - Ba The is recognized by UNESCO, the most obvious opportunity will be the development of sustainable tourism . This development could create jobs for community guides, transportation services, accommodation, food, local products, souvenirs, and cultural experience models.
However, benefits are only sustainable when done correctly. Sustainable tourism requires clean landscapes, respect for historical sites, orderly services without touting or encroaching stalls, and no blatant commercialization, as this will ruin the experience and tarnish the image of the heritage site. A UNESCO-recognized heritage site always comes with long-term protection requirements, so all development activities must comply with planning and regulations.
Mr. Le Van Da, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Oc Eo commune, believes that the best way for people to benefit is to develop products associated with kindness and identity. People can engage in clean agriculture, create healthy handicrafts, provide knowledgeable tour guide services, and develop experiential models linked to life in the delta. When people produce quality products, customers will return. When customers return, livelihoods will be sustainable.
Ancient artifacts are displayed at the Oc Eo Cultural Exhibition House. Photo: Duc Binh
Heritage lives on with the community and generations.
The value of Óc Eo - Ba Thê lies partly in its artifacts and partly in the stories that future generations understand and continue to tell. Therefore, integrating heritage into education is a long-term approach, consistent with the requirements of sustainable preservation. In previous articles, I have mentioned the canal system, the remains of fortifications, residential patterns, religious life, and trade activities from the 1st to the 7th centuries AD. These contents, if translated into easily understandable language, can become very engaging lessons. Children can understand how ancient people lived alongside water, what a port city meant, and that properly preserving a piece of pottery is more important than simply bringing it home as a decorative object.
When young people understand their heritage, pride will naturally develop. This pride is not complacency, but a form of cultural self-respect. Cultural self-respect helps the community feel ashamed when littering in tourist areas, avoid buying and selling artifacts, and speak appropriately to visitors from afar. In this era of globalization, local identity is preserved through such small actions.
An archaeological site has been excavated. Photo: DUC BINH
The UNESCO journey for Oc Eo - Ba The has a roadmap and milestones to be completed. After submitting the dossier, the next crucial stage is the field assessment in 2026, when experts will visit to survey and compare the dossier with the actual site. The next stage involves the process of reviewing, explaining, advocating, and defending the dossier, with the expectation of reaching the 2027 review.
These milestones show that this is not the story of one agency or one sector, but the story of the entire community. Every resident living in the heritage site and buffer zone contributes to the image of the heritage. When experts come to survey, they will see how the people maintain hygiene, how the signs are followed, how the site is protected, and how the community understands the value of the heritage. Therefore, the call for consensus lies not in slogans but in a clear concept. Every citizen must be a "gatekeeper," because the people are the first and most frequent visitors to the heritage.
In the afternoon, I stood at the foot of Ba Thê mountain, looking out at the fields. The rice paddies reflected the setting sun. The road was dotted with people returning home. Against this familiar backdrop, I suddenly thought: The path of heritage to the world doesn't begin with a ceremony, nor with a certificate of recognition. The path of Óc Eo - Ba Thê to the world begins today, with how we walk past the site without trampling on it, with how we earn our living without harming it, and with how we are proud without forgetting discipline.
If the title comes one day, that will be the reward. But before there is a reward, there must be integrity. And that integrity lies in every small action of the community, right on the Oc Eo plain, at the foot of Ba The mountain, in life today. UNESCO may come later, but discipline regarding heritage must come first.
5 things people can do right now 1. Keep the historical site and surrounding area clean, and dispose of trash in designated areas. 2. Do not litter, do not damage the landscape, and do not damage boundary markers and signs. 3. Do not excavate illegally in search of relics or artifacts. 4. Do not buy, sell, or exchange items of unknown origin. 5. Report any artifacts, unusual markings, or violations to the authorities or management board. |
VIET TIEN
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/oc-eo-ba-the-tren-chang-duong-den-di-san-the-gioi-bai-cuoi-duong-ra-the-gioi-bat-dau-tu-hom-nay-a473780.html
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