Waiting for the conclusion, the relic cannot be restored
On August 11, Mr. Pham Phu Ngoc - Deputy Director of the Hoi An Cultural Heritage Conservation Management Center - said that the unit had prepared a restoration plan based on archival documents, ready to restore the waterway stele to its original state. However, this work must wait for the results of the investigation and the official conclusion of the police agency.
Before merging administrative units, the police had summoned a suspected sabotage suspect. This person shows signs of mental illness, but to date, the incident has not been clarified - Mr. Ngoc added.
According to the records, the incident occurred in the early morning of March 31, 2025 in Cam Pho ward (now Hoi An ward, Da Nang city). At around 1-2 am, people heard the hammer playing near the watch area. By morning, the stele had been completely destroyed by the Han Nom characters and carvings. This stone stele is located in the worship center at the base of the ancient banyan tree (the tree has been included in the list of ancient trees protected) and is related to the worship of the god Bac De Tran Vu at Cau Pagoda.
According to legend, Cau Pagoda was built to ward off fish and reptiles, protecting residents from natural disasters and floods. The stele is considered a part of this spiritual system, to maintain peace for the community. Reversal
This stele is not only a historical artifact but also has profound spiritual significance for the local community.
community outrage, demand for increased heritage protection
In the list of Historical - Cultural Relics of Hoi An City, the water-crossing stele is located in the protection area I of the World Cultural Heritage - Hoi An Ancient Urban Area, subject to type I conservation and under the State ownership form.
Immediately after discovering the sabotage of this relic, the Hoi An Cultural Heritage Conservation Management Center reported to the relevant agencies, requesting the police and the government of the old Hoi An city to investigate and handle it according to regulations. However, the culprit has not yet been identified.
The sabotage incident has angered Hoi An residents and cultural and historical researchers. Many people have linked this incident to the encroachment on national treasures of the Nguyen Dynasty's Emperor Ngai, asking: "When will the culprit be found? And without effective precautions, will heritage sabotage continue to recur?.
People around the banyan tree area where the stele is placed said that the stele plays an important role in local beliefs, an inseparable part of the spiritual and historical value of Hoi An. After the incident, they still burn incense, clean every day and remind each other to take care of themselves more carefully.
Mr. Ngoc said that the Center and functional units are currently coordinating to strengthen the protection of the relic's status, while calling on the community to join hands to preserve the precious cultural values of the ancient town against the risk of encroachment.
