What does the international media say about the centuries-old shipwreck that surfaced in Hoi An sea?

Severe coastal erosion caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi (Storm No. 13) has revealed a centuries-old shipwreck in Vietnam. Experts say this could be a discovery of historical significance.

According to AFP , the ancient shipwreck, at least 17.4m long, was first discovered in 2023 off the coast of Hoi An. The heavy wooden hull remains almost intact after hundreds of years of fighting against wind and waves.

Experts have yet to determine the exact age of the ship, but initial assessments suggest it was built sometime between the 14th and 16th centuries. This was when Hoi An was at the center of a bustling regional trade route that traded silk, ceramics and spices.

Ancient shipwreck suddenly surfaced on Hoi An beach after storm ( Video source: CNN).

Sharing with AFP reporters, Mr. Pham Phu Ngoc, Director of the Hoi An Cultural Heritage Management and Conservation Center, said that the unit is preparing to submit an application for emergency excavation permission after the ship resurfaces.

“The discovery of this ancient ship is clear evidence of Hoi An’s important historical role in the regional trade network. At the same time, the more visible parts of the ship can provide more information,” he said.

Truyền thông quốc tế nói gì về xác tàu cổ hàng thế kỷ nổi lên ở biển Hội An - 1 — Ancient shipwreck revealed on the beach (Photo: Tam Xuan/AFP via Getty Images).

Previously, a team of experts from the Hoi An Conservation Center, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City and a local museum surveyed the ship in 2024.

Information posted on CBS News said that, in addition to a preliminary estimate of the age, experts discovered that the ship was made of "strong and durable wood" and was reinforced with waterproof materials to seal the joints.

Truyền thông quốc tế nói gì về xác tàu cổ hàng thế kỷ nổi lên ở biển Hội An - 2 — Locals and tourists gathered around the ancient ship to admire the ancient ship discovered on the beach (Photo: Hoai Son).

“The structure of the ship shows that it was capable of long voyages, most likely used for maritime trade,” said a representative of the Hoi An Center for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation.

According to the center, the artifact is at risk of "serious deterioration if no immediate conservation measures are taken due to severe coastal erosion and the ship's frequent exposure to harsh weather conditions."

Recently, the weather in the US has also revealed many long-sunken shipwrecks.

In May, a Wisconsin fisherman discovered the wreck of a tugboat that had been submerged in Lake Michigan for more than a century after storms exposed it.

Previously, in 2024, storm erosion and unusually high tides also exposed part of a 114-year-old ship in Massachusetts.

Similarly in 2022, severe beach erosion from two hurricanes exposed a wooden ship dating back to the 1800s buried deep under the sand in Florida.

The ship was first discovered on December 26, 2023. The location where the ship was discovered is close to the coast with the mainland, about 400m from the People's Committee of Cam An Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province (old).

The sunken wooden ship was reportedly large in size, with a structure that combined Southeast Asian and Chinese shipbuilding traditions.

Notably, scientists believe this could be an ancient ship treasure because it was discovered in an almost intact state.

The reappearance of the ship after many months missing has attracted the attention of many locals and tourists.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/truyen-thong-quoc-te-noi-gi-ve-xac-tau-co-hang-the-ky-noi-len-o-bien-hoi-an-20251117163206988.htm