Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has assigned local authorities of An Giang Province the task of making a master plan for the special national relic archaeological site Oc Eo - Ba The.

Dam has asked for more details on the renovation project to turn the site into a tourism destination.
He has also ordered the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to co-ordinate with the concerned agencies to assess the plan before submitting it to the Government for approval.

The site is located in Oc Eo Town in Thoai Son District in the southern province of An Giang, with a total preservation area of more than 433ha.

The Oc Eo civilisation existed in the southern plains of Viet Nam in the 10th century AD. In 1937, French archaeologist Louis Malleret examined and researched some areas in Ba Thê and found traces of a portal city with an ancient water canal system.

Upon its discovery in 1942, Malleret decided to name the site Oc Eo after a nearby hill. Since then, many sites in the same district have also been excavated, including Giong Cat, Giong Xoai, Go Cay Thi and Go Da.

Traces of the Oc Eo culture, such as antiques, religious objects, and architectural remnants, have also been found in the Tri Ton and Tinh Bien districts.

Due to its immense historic, cultural and scientific value, the site was listed as a National Relic Site on September 27, 2012.

VNS