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| Vice Chairman of Hue City People’s Committee Hoang Hai Minh (fifth from right) inspecting the flooded Phu Dien Cham Tower site. Photo: D. Loc |
On November 7th, Standing Committee Member of the City Party Committee and Vice Chairman of Hue City People’s Committee Hoang Hai Minh, together with representatives from various departments and sectors, conducted an on-site inspection at the Phu Dien Cham Tower historical site in Phu Vinh Commune.
At the scene, the entire tower was visibly submerged. In response, Vice Chairman Hoang Hai Minh instructed that water pumps be deployed to drain the site. He also requested that relevant agencies and local authorities remain on duty to closely monitor the situation, ensure all water is removed within the day, and report results to the City People’s Committee. For the long term, he emphasized the need to research and propose effective preservation measures, particularly drainage and anti-flooding solutions, to protect the site and surrounding area.
According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Loc - Director of Hue City Museum of History - the managing agency - the site has been prone to flooding of around 30 cm during storm and high tide seasons in past years. This year, however, the water level has risen higher, reaching about 60 cm. “Usually, when the tide recedes, the water drains away; this time, however, even if we pump the water out today, it’d flow back in by tomorrow,” said Mr. Loc.
The Phu Dien Cham Tower was discovered in 2001 by a group of titanium miners. At the time of discovery, the tower was buried 5-7 meters deep under coastal sand. The incident was promptly reported to local authorities and relevant agencies. Shortly afterward, the provincial People’s Committee (now the City People’s Committee) directed departments and related units to coordinate in protecting the site and conducting surveys and excavations.
At the end of 2001, the site was recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism) as a National Architectural and Artistic Monument.
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| Mobilizing water pumps to drain the flooded Phu Dien Cham Tower site. Photo: D. Loc |
By mid-2022, the site was officially recognized by the World Records Union (WorldKings) as the “World’s first ancient Cham brick tower excavated and preserved beneath coastal sand dunes”. The Vietnam Records Organization (VietKings) also certified the Phu Dien Cham Tower as “Vietnam’s first ancient Cham tower excavated and preserved beneath coastal sand dunes”.