Oc Eo culture's statue in An Giang recognised as national treasure
The Mekong Delta province of An Giang held a ceremony in Long Xuyen city on August 7 to announce a Prime Minister decision recognising Mukhalinga Ba The, a linga with the head of Hindu god Shivaa as a national treasure.
A ceremony is held in Long Xuyen city, An Giang province on August 7 to announce a Prime Minister decision recognising Mukhalinga Ba The, a linga with the head of Hindu god Shivaa as a national treasure. (Photo: VNA)
An Giang (VNA) – The Mekong Delta province of AnGiang held a ceremonyᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ in Long Xuyen city on August 7 to announce a Prime Minister decision recognising Mukhalinga Ba The, a linga with the head of Hindu god Shivaa as a nationaltreasure.
Mukhalinga Ba The, discovered in Vong The commune, Thoai Sondistrict in 1986, is a typical statue representing the sculpture and religious architecture of the Oc Eo culture, Believed to date back about the 6th century BC, it is 91cm in height and 20-22cm in width, and weighs 90kg. Speaking at the ceremony, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Nguyen Khanh Hiep revealed that Mukhalinga Ba The is the 8th treasure in the province recognised as anational treasure. In particular, all the recognised are of the Oc Eo culture. Currently, the province’s museum is keeping sixnational treasures, including the Brahma Giong Xoai statue, dating back the6th-7th centuries, two sets of Linga and Yoni from the 5th-7th centuries, aGiong Xoai wooden Buddha statue from the 4th-6th centuries, Linga-Yoni Linh Sonand Mukhalinga Ba The while the Nandin Giong Cat Ring and a stonecarved with a meditating Buddha image are being kept at the Oc Eo CulturalRelic Management Board. Hiep said the discovered artifacts of the Oc Eoculture contain important cultural, historical, religious, architectural andartistic meanings, contributing to clarifying the process of expanding thesouthern region of the Vietnamese people.
The Oc Eo culture was first discovered in 1944 via artifacts found in the sites of Ba The Mountain, now in Oc Eo town, Thoai Son district in An Giang province.
Scientific research has unravelled a brilliant culture with a system of dense monuments on a large scale with a variety of artifacts, diverse in types and high levels of technique, aesthetics, arts, and interactivity with major cultural centres at that time.
Artifacts of the Oc Eo Culture are valued as significant historical documents and evidence of a prosperous culture in the history of Vietnam.
An exhibition on introduction the province’s national treasures was opened afte♕r the ceremony, which kicked of the An Giang Culture and TourismFestival 2023, taking place from August 7-10 with various activities such asdisplaying national treasures, a book fair, a storytelling competition, artperformances, among others./.
Hindu towers associated with the Oc Eo Culture are found not only in the central provinces like Khanh Hoa, Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan but also in the Mekong Delta. One such ancient relic in the region is Binh Thanh tower in Tay Ninh province’s Trang Bang district.
New archaeological findings at the Oc Eo - Ba The and Nen Chua archaeological sites in the Mekong Delta provinces of An Giang and Kien Giang have set an important milestone in the research of the Oc Eo culture and provided reliable evidence and materials for the compilation of a dossier of the sites to seek recognition as a World Cultural Heritage site, a prominent archaeologist has said.
The authorities of the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on January 6 held a conference to review a decade of the operation of the Oc Eo - Ba The special national relic site (2012-2022), and announce a plan to prepare a dossier seeking UNESCO recognition of the archaeological location as a World Heritage Site.
Vietnamese Consul General in Fukuoka Vu Chi Mai highlighted the growing demand for Vietnamese workers in Kyushu, especially in Fukuoka, Oita, and Saga prefectures. Currently, the region employs about 35,000 Vietnamese manual workers and over 5,000 IT engineers.
In Vietnam’s case, she said, President Ho Chi Minh demonstrated his strategic vision by founding the revolutionary press a century ago. The late leader understood the press's role not only as a means to reflect the country’s realities but also as a powerful tool to strengthen national unity and inspire the resistance wars and national construction process.
In recent interviews granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporters in Mexico, prominent figures reflected on the press’s legacy and its global influence.
VietnamPlus e-newspaper of the VNA clinched an A prize in the “Outstanding Press Product” category for its immersive 3D multimedia project, “Epic of Reunification,” a groundbreaking blend of storytelling and technology. The VNA won another A prize for its eye-catching exhibition booth.
Today, the press for foreign service has evolved into a distinct, irreplaceable force, bridging Vietnam with the world and portraying a nation that is stable, peace-loving, and fully integrated into the international community.
At a review conference held on June 21, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh praised the province’s scientific, coordinated, and flexible approach. He noted that the early completion reflects the strong commitment of local authorities, the business community, philanthropists, and residents in improving housing conditions for disadvantaged groups.
The VNA delegation, led by General Director Vu Viet Trang, actively participated in the event, engaging in both professional and diplomatic activities.
In the context where AI dominates and produces vast volumes of content, the only sustainable path forward for journalism is to focus on high-quality content and core values. Journalism must redefine its mission - not to report the fastest, but to provide the most profound and trustworthy value.
Granma and the VNA have great potential for cooperation, especially in sharing content regularly, so that VNA products are published on Granma platforms and vice versa, thereby helping Cuban and Vietnamese people access true information and gain a deep understanding of each other's country and people.
During his stay in China’s Guangzhou city from 1924 to 1927 to prepare for the establishment of a Communist Party to lead Vietnam’s revolution, President Ho Chi Minh founded “Thanh nien” newspaper and released its first issue on June 21, 1925.
Vietnam and Cambodia are hoped to strengthen their robust collaboration across various sectors, particularly in resolving remaining border issues to transform the border area into a zone of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development.
The strategic product, managed and operated by the Vietnam News Agency Digital Media Centre (VNA Media), is an official channel for popularising the Party and State’s information and documents as well as delivering mainstream and trustworthy news to both domestic and international audiences through various kinds of multimedia formats.
Since President Ho Chi Minh founded Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has become the voice of the people. During the resistance war against the colonialists, journalists took great personal risks to inspire patriotism and the will of rising up against foreign invaders.
The total investment exceeded 319 billion VND (12.2 million USD), including over 261 billion VND from the state budget and 57.5 billion VND mobilised from businesses, organisations, and individuals.
The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang is intensifying efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as part of the country’s goal of having the European Commission’s “yellow card” warning lifted.
Throughout its 80-year history, the VNA has remained at the forefront of information dissemination. It has consistently delivered timely, accurate, and objective reports on both domestic and international events, serving the Party’s leadership, the State’s management, and the public’s demand for official news.
With strong support from local authorities, businesses, organisations, and residents, the province has successfully built or repaired 10,707 homes for disadvantaged households, including war veterans, families of martyrs, ethnic minority people, and low-income residents.
Throughout its resistance against colonialists and imperialists, Vietnam developed a revolutionary press that has served as a benchmark for just and legitimate causes worldwide.
Founded in 1842, the Vienna Philharmonic is regarded as a cultural ambassador of Austria, with prestigious conductors like Mahler and Karajan who shape its legacy. Its New Year’s Concert, broadcast to over 90 countries annually, stands as a global symbol of classical music excellence.
A ceremony is held in Long Xuyen city, An Giang province on August 7 to announce a Prime Minister decision recognising Mukhalinga Ba The, a linga with the head of Hindu god Shivaa as a national treasure. (Photo: VNA) 
