Scientists seek to preserve Champa architecture

A wide range of ways to preserve Champa architecture were discussed at aconference on the application of advanced technologies in preservingChampa relics in Quang Nam province on June 29.

At the conference, held by the Quang Nam People’s Committee incollaboration with the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian andVietnamese scientists presented reports on the structure and materialsused to build My Son, a cluster of abandoned and partially ruined Hindutemples.

Russian scientists’ research and sampleanalyses revealed that the materials used to build the temples havedifferent origins and characteristics from baked materials and thebricks are unevenly baked and contain sand and plant matter.

Prof. Sergey Nefedkin said My Son is not only Vietnam’s heritage butthe world’s heritage and therefore, conducting research for itspreservation and restoration is critical.

Themain goal of the research team, the professor said, is to prevent decayfrom natural elements and uncover materials that can be used to restorethe original form of the temples.

The professor proposed hardening the surfaces with special chemicals to protect layers of brick beneath the surface.

Vu Ngoc Hoang, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’sCommission for Popularisation and Education, said the Russianscientists’ results were very encouraging.

He said that the restoration must maintain the ancient characteristics of the relics.

Le Van Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Quang Nam People’s Committee, saidthe province has been coordinating with sectors and scientists todiscover ancient secrets in building temples to preserve and restorestructures of the Champa culture, returning them to their originalvalue.

Quang Nam is home to manyinternational-level Champa architectures. The most notable arethousand-year-old towers, reflecting the phenomenal creativity of theChampa culture.

Temples and clusters of templesin Chien Dan, Khuong My, Bang An, the Dong Duong Buddhist Institute, MySon are attracting scientists to discover the ancient secrets.

First Vietnam Culture Day sparks in Seoul

Vietnamese traditions and colours filled Seoul as the first Vietnam Culture Day was held in the Republic of Korea (RoK) on June 28.

Thousands of Vietnamese and Korean nationals joined the event at Dong-jak district’s communal house to immerse themselves in Vietnamese cuisine and a traditional music competition.

Vietnamese women in ao dai (long dresses) and others who married into Korean families wearing its equivalent, a Hanbok, symbolised a cultural harmony between the two nations.

Delivering a speech at the event, Counsellor Tran Anh Vu from the Vietnam Embassy in the RoK noted the importance of the cultural day in promoting Vietnam and generating mutual understanding between the two peoples.

The event contributes to strengthening connection among the Vietnamese expat communities in the RoK, he said.

The Vietnamese cultural centre in the host country organised the event.

VNA

Scientists seek to preserve Champa architecture

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