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An international seminar on Cham civilisations - the links
between Vietnam and India, opened in central coastal city of Da Nang on June 26.
Addressing the two-day event, the first of its kind in Vietnam, Minister of
Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh affirmed the Cham ethnic people are
among Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups.
The group has a rich cultural treasure, the most typical examples of which are
the world cultural heritage site of My Son in central Quang Nam province,
traditional festivals and numerous archaeological sites. Influence by the Indian
culture could be seen most clearly in the Cham architecture, arts, beliefs and
religions, said the minister.
For his part, Indian Ambassador to Vietnam, Rajit Rae, said the seminar will
study various aspects of century’s old cultural exchange and open up
opportunities for sharing experiences in the restoration and preservation of the
My Son sanctuary.
This is also a chance for experts from the Archaeology Survey of India to
acquire expertise from Vietnamese scholars and for Vietnamese, Indian and
foreign scholars to discuss effective methods for future co-operation, said the
Indian diplomat.
During the event, participants will hear scholars’ speeches on the Cham
sculpture, explore the links between Vietnam and India, the Cham temples and
intangible cultural heritage, as well as share expertise in restoring and
preserving the world’s heritage sites.
The Indian government is to provide Vietnam with US$3 million to restore and
preserve the My Son sanctuary. The project will be carried out by the
Archaeological Survey of India, which has previously restored with critical
acclaim, the temples at Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm in Cambodia and Wat Phou in
Laos.
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