Accompanying the delegation were Mr. Dang Xuan Phong, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Standing Deputy Head of the Government Office; Mr. Nguyen Tien Hai, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Secretary of the An Giang Provincial Party Committee; Mr. Ho Van Mung, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the An Giang Provincial People's Committee; Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Huong, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the XV National Assembly Delegation of An Giang Province, and Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of An Giang Province; and Ms. Nguyen Thi Quyen Thanh, Deputy Minister of Education and Training.

The Ba Chuc Mass Grave Historical Site commemorates 3,157 victims of the massacre perpetrated by Pol Pot and Ieng Sary during the Southwestern border war. It is not only a place to remember the deceased but also a significant site for traditional education, reminding present and future generations of the painful past and fostering a deeper appreciation for peace and independence. 

Deeply moved while offering incense to commemorate the victims massacred by Pol Pot at the Ba Chuc Mass Grave, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra expressed her hope that the Central Executive Board of the Tu An Hieu Nghia Buddhist Association, along with the An Giang provincial government and Ba Chuc commune authorities, would continue to carefully preserve and protect the remains currently being held. This would serve to educate present and future generations about the tradition of patriotism and the principle of "drinking water, remembering the source."

On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra visited and surveyed the Oc Eo - Ba The National Special Relic Site (Oc Eo commune).

During the inspection, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra surveyed the historical sites of Go Cay Thi and Linh Son Tu, checked the progress of the construction of the roof covering for the Go Sau Thuan site, and listened to reports on the progress of conservation projects.

Representatives from the Oc Eo Cultural Relic Management Board stated that the unit is striving to accelerate progress and complete the renovation and technical treatment items in accordance with archaeological regulations this March. In particular, for areas under construction, strict preservation measures are being implemented, prioritizing the use of protective coverings to both preserve the original state of the relics and serve visitors.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra highly appreciated the proactive approach and close coordination of the locality with central ministries and agencies; and emphasized that the Oc Eo - Ba The relic site is not only a source of pride for An Giang but also an important connecting point for the entire Mekong Delta region. A comprehensive view and careful planning of close linkages between localities in the region are essential.

Unveiling historical evidence at Oc Eo - Ba The is not only an archaeological task, but also crucial proof of the nation's sovereignty and the progress of its civilization in this region. The Deputy Prime Minister requested An Giang province to strengthen management and strictly protect the excavated areas, determined to have the Oc Eo - Ba The archaeological site recognized as a World Heritage site.

To date, the nomination dossier for the Oc Eo – Ba The archaeological site has been officially accepted by UNESCO and forwarded to the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) for assessment – a significant step in the journey towards World Cultural Heritage status.

Currently, the locality is entering a phase of accelerated implementation, simultaneously carrying out 12 projects to serve the reception of the UNESCO expert delegation.

News by Nhu Ngoc

Translator: Thi Huynh