Additional 13 national relic sites recognised

Hanoi (VNA) – The Prime Minister has approved the recognition of 13 more places as national special relic sites in terms of history, architecture and landscape.

The sites include the Hoa Lai and Po Klong Garai towers in Ninh Thuan, Dong Duong Buddhist monastery in Quang Nam and Bo Da pagoda in Bac Giang.

The Hoa Lai tower complex in Thuan Bac district is believed to be constructed during the early 9th century, and originally comprised three towers, with one destroyed during the war and one remaining almost intact. The structure, typical for the Hoa Lai architecture, is among the oldest Champa towers found in Vietnam.

The Po Klong Garai tower complex is another Champa architecture on the list. It is located 7km west to the centre of Phan Rang city and is where the local Kate festival – the biggest event of Cham people following Brahmanism – takes place every year.

The Dong Duong Buddhist monastery, a Champa ruins in Thang Binh district, was among the largest Buddhism hub of the Champa Kingdom era (192-1832).

The Bo Da Pagoda in Viet Yen District was built in the 11th century under the Ly Dynasty, the golden age of Buddhism in Vietnam. It has preserved Buddhist woodblocks and ancient architecture for hundreds of years.

Other newly approved national special relic sites are the An Phu-Kinh Chu-Nham Duong complex in Hai Duong, Keo Hanh Thien pagoda in Nam Dinh and the tomb site of Vietnamese poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu in Ben Tre, among others./.