Vietnam has officially recognised two relics of the ancient Oc Eo civilisation as National Treasures, underscoring the historical depth of the country’s southern region.
At a ceremony on 28 November in An Giang province, the Oc Eo Cultural Relics Management Board announced the designation of the Linh Son Bac Buddha statue head, dating from the 1st to 3rd century, and the Go Cay Tram jar tomb, from the 4th to 5th century. Both were discovered at the Oc Eo–Ba The heritage site, a vast archaeological complex linked to the kingdom of Phu Nam.
The Buddha head, made of terracotta, depicts the figure sheltered by a five‑headed Naga serpent — a motif typical of Indian‑influenced Buddhist art. It was unearthed amid layers of religious architecture spanning centuries, alongside ceramics, oil lamps and steles.
The Go Cay Tram tomb was found during excavations in 2018–2019. The burial consisted of an inverted ceramic jar sealed with a disc‑shaped lid. Inside were the remains of a child aged around seven or eight, along with soil deposits. Experts date the jar and lid to the early Oc Eo period.
Nguyen Van Nhien, director of the Oc Eo Cultural Relics Management Board, said the recognition affirms the immense value of the Oc Eo–Ba The heritage and enhances An Giang’s cultural profile. The site, covering more than 433 hectares, is rich in temples, workshops and residential remains, reflecting a civilisation that thrived between the 1st and 7th centuries AD.
Identified in 1944 by French scholar Louis Malleret, Oc Eo culture is renowned for its blend of indigenous traditions and international exchange, facilitated by ancient port systems. Gold, ceramics, glass and stone artefacts testify to its creativity and trade links.
The relic site was ranked a special national relic in 2012 and added to UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Cultural Heritage in 2022. Vietnam aims to secure full World Heritage status by 2027, with conservation and restoration work already under way.
The new National Treasure designations highlight both the archaeological richness of Oc Eo and Vietnam’s ambition to bring its southern heritage to global recognition.
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