Art of pottery-making of Cham people honored by the UNESCO

As part of the 5th Regional Conference of Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) - Asia-Pacific Region, the discussion session on the afternoon of October 15th became one of the most notable highlights of the event. The exchange focused on policies, management experience, and solutions to improve quality of life in cities endowed with unique heritage values.

For centuries, the land of Hue has been renowned for the skillful hands of its artisans. This region is a place not only preserves the cultural heritage of the imperial court, but also serves as the cradle that maintains and develops hundreds of unique traditional craft villages. However, in the face of global integration trends, Hue’s craft villages are confronting numerous challenges.

“Up to now, nearly 200 works and items within the Complex of Hue Monuments have been preserved, restored, and renovated, with a total expense of over 2.000 billion VND. This work has always strictly complied with the regulations of the 1972 World Heritage Convention, UNESCO guidelines, and the Law on Cultural Heritage of Vietnam, ensuring authenticity, integrity, and adaptability to the harsh climate conditions of the Central region of Vietnam, etc.,”. These details were shared by Hue Monuments Conservation Center to Mr. Lazare Eloundou, Director of UNESCO Cultural Heritage Center during his visit and working trip in Vietnam at the end of May.

Alongside efforts to expose the foundations of the South and North towers and the southern and northern perimeter walls, the second phase of the archaeological excavation at the Lieu Coc Twin Towers has yielded over 9.300 samples and artifact fragments. These consist mainly of architectural materials, decorative elements, stele fragments, ceramics, stoneware, terracotta objects, and bronze fragments.

The companionship of UNESCO and the international community has not only helped Hue’s heritage overcome difficult times but also gradually brought the preservation efforts of Hue’s heritage to reach international standards.