Oc Eo - Ba The to be nominated as world heritage site
Oc Eo is widely recognized as an archeological hallmark of southern Vietnam dating back to the early Common Era.
THE HANOI TIMES — An international scientific conference was held in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on July 30 to deliberate on the nomination criteria for the Oc Eo - Ba The archaeological site to be recognized as a world heritage site.
The Oc Eo archaeological site. Photo: vpcp.chinhphu.vn
Dr. Truong Dac Chien, a member of the advisory group responsible for creating the World Heritage nomination dossier for Oc Eo - Ba The, presented key findings from recent excavations at the site and Nen Chua.
These findings include temple architecture, stilt-house remains, and stone, brick, and wood wells and reservoirs, as well as traces of jewelry production using precious stones, glass, and gold.
Dr. Chien described the site as a significant historical and cultural "crossroads" between ancient Southeast Asian kingdoms and regions in South Asia, Southwest Asia, and Northeast Asia.
In 2012, the Vietnamese Government designated the Oc Eo-Ba The site a special national relic. On January 4, 2022, UNESCO included it on the tentative list for potential inscription as a world cultural heritage site.
Vietnam has a total of 23 UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites, including eight cultural sites, two natural sites, and one mixed site. The remaining 15 sites are intangible cultural heritage elements, such as the Space of Gong Culture, Hue Court Music, and Quan ho folk songs.
Leading experts in archaeology, history, and heritage conservation from many countries attend the conference. Photo: An Giang Newspaper
