On July 10, the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province held a ceremony to receive the official recognition of Thap Ba Ponagar as a Special National Relic. 

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Khanh Hoa leaders receive the certificate for Thap Ba Ponagar’s recognition as a Special National Relic. (Photo: Xuan Ngoc)

This ancient Cham architectural complex, over a thousand years old, was also accompanied by the designation of the incense-making knowledge of the region as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Located on Cu Lao Hill beside the Cai River along 2 Thang 4 Street in northern Nha Trang, Thap Ba Ponagar is a significant Cham temple complex dating from the 8th to the 13th centuries. Built during the Panduranga dynasty, the tower is dedicated to the goddess Ponagar - regarded by the Cham people as the Mother of the Land. For more than a millennium, this site has remained central to the cultural and spiritual lives of both Cham and Vietnamese communities.

Recognized as a national historical monument since 1979, Thap Ba Ponagar is also known for its vibrant annual festival held from the 21st to the 23rd day of the third lunar month. This event has been classified as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage and is among the most important traditional festivals in Vietnam.

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Aerial view of the ancient Cham tower complex, over a thousand years old. (Photo: Xuan Ngoc)

Speaking at the ceremony, Khanh Hoa’s Chairman Tran Quoc Nam emphasized that Thap Ba Ponagar is not only a unique architectural treasure of historical and aesthetic value but also houses numerous precious artifacts such as royal edicts, inscriptions, and ancient statues.

Among these, the statue of the goddess Po Inu Nagar (also known as Thien Y A Na) represents the pinnacle of Cham sculpture, reflecting vivid expression, spiritual depth, and the artistic brilliance of an entire cultural era.

The Cham tower complex has remarkably preserved its original architectural structure, remaining a sacred symbol in the spiritual consciousness of central Vietnamese communities. It is closely linked to traditional beliefs and the legend of the “Mother of the Land.”

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Khanh Hoa officials accept recognition of incense-making knowledge as National Intangible Cultural Heritage. (Photo: Xuan Ngoc)

Chairman Nam noted that the tower serves as a central hub for Mother Goddess worship, not only in Khanh Hoa but throughout south-central Vietnam. Moreover, Thien Y A Na is revered by those in the incense trade as their spiritual founder. With Khanh Hoa's abundance of premium agarwood, the province has developed a distinct identity in Vietnam’s cultural landscape. Many of its agarwood products now meet the national OCOP (One Commune, One Product) standard.

Also recognized during the ceremony was the traditional knowledge of agarwood processing - now classified as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. This honor affirms both the historical and economic significance of the region’s famed "Land of Agarwood."

Chairman Nam urged the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to continue proposing initiatives that integrate heritage preservation with tourism development, positioning Thap Ba Ponagar as a distinctive spiritual and cultural destination in Khanh Hoa’s journey of integration and progress.

Xuan Ngoc