At the recent 11^th session of the Da Nang People's Council in its 10^th tenure for the 2021 - 2026 term, the municipal government has given a nod for building the Museum of Cham Sculpture No.2 at the Cham relic site nestled in Phong Le Village, Hoa Tho Dong Ward, Cam Le District at a total cost of more than VND140 billion in first phase.

Accordingly, the new development will feature three areas. In particular, a relic conservation area will be 2,653m². Meanwhile, some works of protection such as tower architecture, auxiliary architecture and linking system, a temple, 2 ancient tombs, protective walls, green trees, and a space creating a buffer zone to protect the relic will be built on an area of 4,279m².

The third 15,361m² area will be designated for technical infrastructure system, lotus ponds, greenery, and an open space to serve the community and tourists to visit, relax and entertain. There will be an exhibition house for Cham relics in Da Nang, and a space for performing intangible cultural heritage, service areas, and stands selling traditional products.

The Cham Phong Le relic site was found for the first time in 2011. The site was recognised as a municipal-level relic in February 2021.

The Cham Phong Le archaeological relic in Hoa Tho Dong Ward, Cam Le District, Da Nang was recognised as a municipal -level cultural relic site in 2021.

The Cham Phong Le relic site was named after the ancient Phong Le Village. In the past, the place was the land transferred from the Kingdom of Champa to Dai Viet after the historic marriage between King of Champa Che Man and Princess Huyen Tran.

As noted, the entire relic site still has almost maintained pristine features. Weeds are seen covering the site.

A sacred hole has been found during an excavation at the relic site. It is being protected from rain and wind by the steel roof, whilst sandbags are placed around the hole to avoid landslides.

According to Mr. Vo Van Thang, former Director of the Da Nang-based Museum of Cham Sculpture, who has been attached to the Cham Phong Le relic site since the first day of its discovery, the project on upgrading and embellishing the Cham Phong Le relic site will help enrich its value and the current cultural life.

It is known that the project will be implemented in the 2023-2027 period. Once completed, the relic will be an attractive destination for tourists because of its unique cultural values.

The Cham Phong Le archaeological site has great historical and architectural values and the upcoming project is a very necessary option for preserving the Cham culture in Da Nang.

In April 2011, a family discovered a statue of mythological creature with a bird's body and a human head, plus many Cham bricks, when digging the foundation to build a house. Right after that, the Museum of Cham Sculpture and archaeologists conducted three excavations from 2011 to 2013, revealing quite clearly the entire scale and foundation structure of a Cham tower.

Reporting by CHANH LAM - Translating by M.DUNG