At a meeting with experts from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on June 10, Vice Chairwoman of the Da Nang People's Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi reaffirmed the city's commitment to supporting the delegation and creating the best possible conditions for them to complete their mission.

Speaking at the reception for the ASI delegation, Thi said the conservation project for the E-F temple group at My Son Sanctuary is far more than a technical restoration effort. It stands as a vivid symbol of the strategic and enduring partnership between Vietnam and India in the field of cultural heritage preservation.

"This project serves as a bridge connecting two great Asian civilizations - Indian civilization and Vietnam's Cham culture - reflected in every ancient brick restored through the hands of experts and workers from both countries," she said.

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Da Nang has pledged continued support and favorable conditions for Indian experts carrying out the restoration project. Photo: Da Nang City Portal

The conservation and restoration project for the E-F group at My Son Sanctuary, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in My Son Village, Thu Bon Commune, Da Nang, is being implemented under a memorandum signed by the governments of Vietnam and India on October 28, 2014, in New Delhi, along with a supplementary protocol signed on August 1, 2024. The project is scheduled to run from 2025 to 2029.

The Government of India is funding the project with an investment of nearly USD 4.4 million. Vietnam's counterpart contribution, covering wages for 100 workers over five years, is valued at around USD 1.7 million.

Located in the northeastern section of the My Son temple complex, the E-F group consists of ancient brick temple structures dating from the seventh to the eleventh centuries. The site showcases distinctive Cham artistic styles, including Hoa Lai and Tra Kieu, and preserves some of the most significant religious, artistic and architectural values of Cham civilization.

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Indian experts present an update on the project's implementation progress. Photo: Da Nang City Portal

The complex is also one of the earliest centers of Shiva worship in Champa. However, decades of war damage and the effects of time have left many structures in poor condition. Numerous monuments have collapsed, become deformed or suffered from subsidence, making urgent restoration necessary.

According to experts, ASI specialists and the My Son World Cultural Heritage Management Board completed 20 percent of the project's workload in 2025. The completed work includes the restoration of the F2 gateway tower, the E2 gateway tower, the E3 long house, perimeter walls, stream erosion control works and surface water management systems.

Parts of the western section of the E-F complex are expected to open to visitors in 2026. Tourists will also be able to observe ongoing conservation and restoration activities within the site.

Under the current plan, from May 2026 to March 2027, experts will focus on restoring the F1 temple, E5 temple, E6 temple, perimeter walls, drainage channels and the site's broader water management system.

Responding to the delegation's updates and proposals, Thi said the city would continue to work closely with the ASI team and provide all necessary support to ensure the project's success.

She also expressed hope that cooperation with ASI could expand beyond heritage conservation to include academic exchanges, scientific research and training programs for future heritage professionals.

Nguyen Hien