This information was announced during a report on the results of the second phase of investigation and excavation at the Lieu Coc Twin Towers site (Kim Tra Ward, Hue City), held on the morning of July 8th by the National Museum of History in collaboration with Hue City Department of Culture and Sports.
The second phase of excavation took place from mid-May to the end of June, under the direction of Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Chat, a specialist at the National Museum of History.
With an excavation area of over 66 square meters, the process fully revealed the foundation layout of the North tower and provided a relatively complete outline of the South tower's foundation. Additionally, parts of the structure, boundaries, and distances of the Southern and Northern perimeter walls were also identified. Several artifacts were unearthed, contributing significantly to the research and understanding of the site, meeting the excavation objectives while raising further questions for continued investigation to clarify the full scale, structure, and nature of the monument.
Numerous artifacts were unveiled at the preliminary report on the second phase of excavation of the Lieu Coc Twin Towers site
According to Mr. Chat, based on the results of this phase as well as the first excavation in 2024, despite limitations in excavation area, it can be confirmed that the Lieu Coc Twin Towers comprise an architectural complex located on a low alluvial mound on the right bank near the Bo River. The site was planned on a flat plot with two main temple towers at the center, surrounded by a wall system that separates the central area from the outer zone, with access through a gateway tower. Notably, the Lieu Coc Twin Towers are currently the only site known in Vietnam in particular and the world in generalto feature two principal worship towers (whereas similar sites typically have one or three).
At the results presentation, local representatives and experts offered several recommendations on preserving and promoting the site's value, as well as expanding the excavation in the future.
The Lieu Coc Twin Towers are a distinctive religious architectural structure of the Cham people. The site is an artistic architectural relic of considerable historical and cultural value, marking a significant phase in the history and the culture of Vietnam in general and the Cham people in particular. In 1926, the Lieu Coc Twin Towers were studied and ranked as a historical site in all of Vietnam and Indochina by the École française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO). In 1994, the site was officially recognized as a National Architectural and Artistic Monument by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism).
