scientific responsible for research project Contents FAUSTO PUGNALONI operational coordinator for research project CECILIA CARLOROSI FOREWORD 4 CECILIA PICCIONI Italian Ambassador, Hanoi surveys VÕ VAN THANG Director of Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture GABRIELE FANGI, EVA SAVINA MALINVERNI CAO HUY HÙNG Director of Thua Thien Hue Museum of History and Revolution GIOVANNI ISSINI SAURO LONGHI Rector Università Politecnica delle Marche The book and the Great Relevance scientific research project ANNA NORA TASSETTI documentary research LE MANH THANH Vice President Hue University were realized thanks to the support of LE NGOC VAN ANH HOANG VAN HIEN Vice Rector Hue University of Sciences Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della technical and graphic documentation NGUYEN VU TRONG THI, TRAN TRUNG HIEU, NGUYEN HUU LONG PHUNG THUA THIEN Hue Province Cooperazione Internazionale, Direzione Generale per la ENZO D’ANNIBALE, CARLO ALBERTO BOZZI, LIVIA PIERMATTEI PREFACE 16 Promozione del Sistema Paese - Italy dicea technical support ANNA PAOLA PUGNALONI, ADRIANA FORMATO, within the Executive Programme for Scientific and Technological FLORIANO CAPPONI, GIANNI PLESCIA, LUIGI SAGONE HERITAGE 18 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE with the collaboration of Cooperation between the Italian Republic and the Socialist Fausto Pugnaloni and Cecilia Carlorosi Republic of Vietnam DANG MINH NAM, TRAN DINH HIEU, VO NGOC DUC, HOANG DUC ANH VU, VO TUAN ANH, FEDERICA BUFFARINI , FRANCESCO CIATTAGLIA, ARIANNA FRULLINI, MARTINA GIOVANELLI, ROMINA NESPECA, EKATERINA TISHENKO Scientific Committee COOPERATION 20 ITALIAN-VIETNAMESE RELATIONSHIPS IN COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS NGUYEN VAN TOAN, NGUYEN VAN TAN, CAO HUY HUNG Vo Thi Kim Thanh GABRIELE FANGI, ANTONELLO ALICI book graphic design&page setting CECILIA CARLOROSI, ANNA PAOLA PUGNALONI HISTORY 22 THE ORIGIN OF THE SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ARCHITECTURE CHAM NGUYEN VU TRONG THI, TRAN TRUNG HIEU, NGUYEN HUU LONG PHUNG Giulio Petti and ASIAN eBOOKS Series DOCUMENTATION 26 THE METRIC DOCUMENTATION OF CHAM TOWERS IN VIETNAM BY PSP Editorial Board Gabriele Fangi, Eva Savina Malinverni, Nora Tassetti with the partecipation of FAUSTO PUGNALONI, Università Politecnica delle Marche. ENZO EUSEBI, Nothing Studio. TANG YUYANG, Academy of Architectural Heritage Beijing. LIU LINAN, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture. CHAM GEOGRAPHY 30 THE ORIGIN OF THE SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ARCHITECTURE CHAM OUYANG WEN, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture. TIZIANO CATTANEO, Tongji University. CECILIA CARLOROSI, Università Politecnica Tran Dinh Hieu delle Marche. CHARNNARONG SRISUWAN, Chiang Mai University. TRAN DINH HIEU, Hue University of Sciences INVESTIGATIONS 32 INTRODUCTION_CLASSIFICATION_DIMENSION_CONSTRUCTIVE METHOD Knowledge and Architectural Design in Beijing Thua Thien Hue Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism DECORATIVE DETAILS_LANDSCAPE Khmer Architecture in Angkor Landscape Heritage in Vietnam: designing the sustainable territory Champa Architecture. Vietnam Towers Road OVERVIEWS 54 CHAM ARCHITECTURE: BASIC MAPS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS Nguyen Vu Trong Thi and Tran Trung Hieu eBooks Series comes from the necessity of a wider distribution to the ASIAN BOOKS within the interuniversity cooperation with the Asian scientific research groups of the involved countries SCULPTURE 57 THE SCULPTURE ART OF CHAM ARCHITECTURE Responsible for Asian eBooks Series: Cecilia Carlorosi Acknowledgements Nguyen Huu Long Phung Authors would like to thank the above mentioned Institutions and ©the authors Universities, whose support made possible this endeavor and the THE SITES 60 BANG AN_BANH IT_BINH LAM_CANH TIEN_CHIEN DAN_DUONG LONG_HOA LAI All rights reserved scientific collaboration between Italy and Vietnam. We wish to HUNG THANH_KHUONG MY_PHU DIEN_MY SON_NHAN_PHU HAI_PO DAM Il Lavoro Editoriale, December 2016 express our gratitude to Italian and Vietnamese professors, young PO KLONG GARAI_PO NAGAR_PO ROME_PHUOC LOC_THU THIEN ISBN 9788876638350 researchers and technicians for their contribution to this research. FINAL REMARKS 126 FUTURE STRATEGIES: UNESCO PROPOSAL FOR CENTRAL VIETNAM

FOR FURTHER READING 128 Bibliography and Hue Exhibition Press Release

4 Foreword cannot but draw its inspiration from the principlesofinclusivityand sustainability, the value the pastinorder to lay the foundations of a flourishing future. A future which pride,because we know through first-hand experience how crucial itisto particular an unrivalledmixwithother culturesoftheregion,constitutesforusa source of the vestiges ofaculturesocloselyentwined with modern Vietnam, in Preserving values andtraditionsofthatancientcivilisation. ofanintegrated strategy,support and bequeath to future generations the heritageof The activitiescarriedoutconstituteourconcrete contributiontosalvage, with the of Vietnam and Indochina as a whole. role played by theCham culture inthehistory proud of,area. Thisisaprojectweareparticularly since weareaware of thecrucial torescue19ChamarchaeologicalsitesintheHue and wide-ranging intervention, ofForeignfrom theItalianMinistry Affairs, has madeitpossible,through a skilful Hue and implemented by the UniversityofLe Marche with asignificantcontribution of theUniversity of Sciences Among these,theprojectcoordinatedbyCollege outambitiousprojectsinthearchaeologicalfield. much energytocarry historical identity,of techniciansandacademicswhodevoteso butalsobytheskill Italy is not, however, characterised only by this natural disposition to safeguard her future. inordertoprojectourancientcivilisation intothe each ofwhichwemustpreserve a fewexamplesthattestifytoItaly’sroleasthecrossroadsofpeoplesandcultures, arebut Saracen fortresses temples, majestic buildings,elegantHellenistic Roman passing at differentpointintimeofvarious other ethnicgroups and peoples: imposing way as in Vietnam – to the settlementupon her soil of different cultures, and the heritage,witness–inmuch thesame Italy canjustlybeproudofanextraordinary come intocontactandtoinitiateanexchangeessentialfortheirmutualenrichment. across thecenturiesvaluesandprinciplesofasociety, allowsdifferentpeoplesto strategic priorityforItaly, convincedaswearethatculture,inadditiontoconvey and architecturalheritagehasalwaysbeena ofthehistorical The conservation Cecilia Piccioni.ItalianAmbassador, Hanoi Cecilia Piccioni.ItalianAmbassador, Hanoi Good reading! Le Marche,nowillustratedinthesepages. same principlesthatinformedthepainstakinglabourofPolytechnic Universityof lettura! opera condotta dall’Università Politecnica delleMarcheeillustratainquestepaginequaliviaugurounabuona oggi nonpuòcheessereispirato ai principidellainclusivitàesostenibilità, gli stessiallabase della “certosina” quanto sia crucialeconoscere e sapervalorizzare il passato per gettare le basidiunprospero futuro. Un futuro che orgoglio,poiché sappiamo per esperienzadiretta mix conlealtreculturedell’area,èfontepernoidiparticolare legataallosviluppodelmodernoVietnaminunineguagliabile di questaultima,fortemente deisegni La preservazione integrate, etramandareallefuturegenerazioniilpatrimoniodivaloritradizioniquellamillenariaciviltà. Indocina. Le attività svolte rappresentano ilnostro fattivo contributo per recuperare, grazie all’ausiliodistrategie siamo moltoorgogliosi,poichécièbennotoilruolocrucialedellaculturaChamnellastoria del Vietnamedell’intera tratta progetto Si diundelquale nell’area diHue. siti archeologiciCham recupero di19 adampioraggio,il intervento delle Marche con il significativo contributo del Ministero degli Esteri italiano, ha consentito, mediante un qualificato Fra questi,quellocoordinatoofSciencesdell’Universita’diHueerealizzatodall’UniversitàPolitecnicadal College realizzazione diambiziosiprogettiincampoarcheologico. dedicano alla così tanteenergie accademici che e degli per lacompetenzaeperiziadeisuoitecnici anche Ma l’Italiae’notanonsoloperquestasuanaturalepredisposizioneatutelarel’elementostorico-identitario, bensì della nostramillenariacivilta’. sempre stata un crocevia di popoli e culture,diciascunadellequaliabbiamo fare tesoro per lo sviluppo successivo saracene. Sono solo alcuni esempidicome la nostra penisola sia raffinati templi ellenistici,maestose fortezze proprio territorio di culturediverse e delpassaggio in epochediverse di altre etnie epopoli: imponenti edificiromani, L’Italia vantaunostraordinarioVietnam,dell’affermazionesul patrimonio chetestimonia,esattamentecomeavvienein differenti eavviarefradiessiunoscambionecessarioalreciprocoarricchimento. che lacultura, oltre a tramandare nei secoliprincipievalori di ognisocieta’, consentadimettere in contatto popoli delpatrimonio storico-architettonico per l’Italiaèdasempreunapriorità strategica nella convinzione La conservazione 5 Võ Van Thang.Thang. Director of Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture

The museum was built in 1915, known as Musée Cam de Tourane, on the Hàn river inspiration from the Indian mythology of Hindu gods, the stories of Buddhas’s life and bank of the to-day Dà Nang city, Viet Nam. That was the result of two earlier decades of the images of Boddhisattvas were also the fond topics for the Cham artists to create collecting the sculptures from various Cham ruins in the provinces of Central Viet Nam, the most aesthetic statues and reliefs. The exhibition of DMCS provides the viewers the where to be known as the cradle of an Indian influenced cilvilisation flourished in ten idols of both Hindu art and Buddhist art. The tympana, the lintels and the colonnettes of centuries, from the fifth to the fifteenth. The museum’s collection of 268 objects was Cham temples with sophisticated carving patterns are also a worth-viewing part in the catalogized by Henri Parmentier, published on Bulletin de l’École francaise d’Extrême- collection of DMCS. Orient in 1919 when the display firstly opened to the public. In recent years, the DMCS has been carying out the archaeological project to excavate In 1927 - 1928 more excavations were carried out at Trà Kieu, a supposed ancient capital the Cham ruins in the area of Dà Nang city with the intention to survey the underground of Champa kingdom, 40 kilometres south of Dà Nang and in 1934 an intensive survey parts of the Cham temples. To the early of the 20th century, the Cham monuments in the was done by archealogists at the so-called Tháp Mam relic in the vicinity of an other area of Dà Nang were almost destroyed. And the fast urbanization made the last remains important center of Champa, often mentioned as Vijaya, about 300 kilomeres south of of Cham structures quickly disappear on the ground. This unluckiness turns to advantage Dà Nang. The findings at Trà Kieu and at Tháp Mam contributed more objects to the for the DMCS today to look at the foundations of Cham temples The excavations were collection of the museum, leading to the construction of galleries annexed to the 1915 started at the Cham vestige in Phong Lecommune in 2011 – 2012 and then at the Cam building and the renewal of the exhibition which was inaugurated in 1936 and preserved Mít site in Cam Toai commune in 2012. The excavation at Phong Le site revealed a large during the war time. pit with brick walls in the centre of the temple foundation, namely “sacred storage”. The archaeology of Champa ruins revived after the war ended in 1975 and the inventory The objects discovered in the storage include pieces of quartz, round pebbles and tiny of the museum has been added with quite a few Cham sculptures. It is deserved to pieces of golden metal which were put carefully in the eight niches at the bottom level mention the statues and reliefs collected from the ruins of An My, Phú Hung, Chiên Dàn of the pit. The excavation at Cam Mít sites discovered three storages of the three ruined and Dong Duong of Quang Nam province, the neigbourhood ofDà Nang city. The bronze temples. Beside the similar objects as in the Phong Le case, five round beads made statue of Tara from Dong Duong, the impressive Buddhist monastry established at the of glass and six pieces of golden metal to be cut into the shape of the elephant were end of the ninth century, is the most significant among the new discoveries. found at Cam Mít storages. The new discoveries in the foundations of Cham temples The Cham sculptures have been entered several museums in the world, but the Dà Nang contribute to the collection of DMCS the sacred objects which must have been related to Museum of Cham Sculpture (DMCS) still held the reputation of treasuring the most the rituals of building a Hindu temple including ritual of “placing the first brick” and to put complete collection of art works of Champa. Nearly 400 sculptures currently exhibited in “consecration deposit” to the deities to ensure the protect and blessing. the main galleries of the DMCS illustrate the stages of evolution of Cham art. Visitors to During one hundred years of establishment, the collection of DMCS has been enriched the museum feel easily to find the masterpieces typical for every Cham art styles, from by continous generations of archaeologists. The museum looks forward to receiving the the earliest tendency of the fifth century to the zenith in the ninth and ten century and cooperation and support to do research, to renovate the display and to better conserve

Foreword DMCS. Its collection and archaeological works the declining in the fourteenth- fifteen centuries. While most of Cham sculptures got the all the valuable pieces of Cham art.

6 7 Cao Huy HùngHùng.. Director of Thua Thien Hue Museum of History and Revolution

Due to many incidents and vicissitudes throughout our history, there has been little to technique, more suitable for small and medium-sized architecture, and creating a steady, none of Champa’s cultural heritage in Thua Thien Hue until just recently. However, its solid, majestic structure. The towers usually have four doors (three secondary doors originality and expressive strength are source of great admiration. This is most visible and a main door); the main door usually faces East towards the rising sun. The unique with the historical-cultural monuments and Champa artefacts that were discovered and style of the Champa Towers was created through flexible and creative transformation, excavated in Thua Thien Hue. starting from fixed foundations, with a few minor changes to the proportion of the arches, The most prominent elements of Champa’s cultural heritage are the sculptures on the columns, and to their shapes and decorative elements. towers, altars, items of worship, and the overall architecture. The Champa Towers seem Sculptures were the other fundamental element of a perfect Champa Tower. More than carved upon “spiritual pedestal”, their stability and majesty break through the vast fifty artefacts are preserved at the Thua Thien Hue museum of History and Revolution, countryside, scattered as they are throughout the river planes, midlands and coastal and other museums in Vietnam, all of which enfold the reminiscences and creative areas of the Thua Thien Hue province. The discovery and study of the three Champa aspirations informed by elevated spiritual values, the pure heart of Champa’s identity. towers: Lieu Coc Twin Towers (Huong Xuan precinct, Huong Tra town), Van Trach Hoa Unlike the sculptures of neighbouring countries, Champa’s sculptures have a Tower (Phong Thu town, Phong Dien district) and Phu Dien Tower (Phu Dien town, Phu sophisticated layout, where each statue and artefact describes essential cultural aspects Vang district), allows us to easily establish that the Cham Towers are structures built for while refraining from a naturalistic imitation. This is most notable in the altar of Van Trach a conception of spirituality and religion influenced by Indian architecture. However, when Hoa tower, which is considered a masterpiece of sculptural art. Champa architecture and the Champa Towers were first built in the Thua Thien Hue province, due to the contrast with statues are not only a means of telling the mythological stories of the Hindu religion, but local cultural beliefs and deities (such as the rain god, the river god, the mountain god, they are also adorned by stylized engravings of floral and geometrical motifs, rendering the sea god etc.), the Cham Towers were not preserved as majestic and vast cathedrals the towers a beautiful and respectful insight into past cultures. Therefore, the Champa for worshippers, but rather reduced to smaller- scale towers, with a specific character towers are a complex artistic symbiosis of sculpture and architecture, where one cannot that distinguishes them from the Indian prototype. The Phu Dien Tower is still relatively be considered without the other. In particular their unique use of brick and stone for the intact whereas in the case of the Lieu Coc and Van Trach Hoa towers all that is left are construction and sculptures has been a secret until now. More than a millennium has ruins of the foundations. In light of recent research and archaeological excavations, the passed and the brick colour of the Champa Towers has not yet faded, stunning us to this majority of experts agree that the Champa Tower complex could have had one to four day with their exquisite and clear engravings. The brick structure of the Champa Towers towers where to worship the kings and ancestors who contributed to the wellbeing of the is of an exceptional standard, making them a cultural heritage of the whole world. nation. The majority of the Champa Towers are shaped like a mountain whilst a number Religion and belief are regarded as the essential elements of the material-cultural of others have a boat-shaped roof, in keeping with the endless mountain ranges nearby lifestyle and the spirit of Champa. Almost all of Champa’s culture and art were deeply and the architectural style of Southeast Asian homes. The Cham Towers were built with marked by India’s main religions, though this influence is cleverly disguised behind bricks, using a technique of uninterrupted rows without mortar. The arches of Champa elements of local beliefs and worship. Champa’s deeply ingrained religious tolerance

Foreword Some thoughts on the Champa Heritage in Thua Thien Hue architecture differ from Roman arches in that they were built with a horizontal brick between different worshippers is characteristic of its people; consequently, the whole of

8 9 Champa’s history is an amalgamation of religions and cultures harmoniously introduced we are able to use and develop all the tools at our disposal to capitalize on the its inherent to the local heritage. This peaceful coexistence and mutual respect of faiths allowed potential, it will surely prompt economic development, which in turn will mean that more Champa culture to draw closer to India’s spirit while still maintaining its own identity. The resources are available to restore and embellish the vestiges of the past. Cham people could worship the Gods of Brahmin, Allah of Islam and their own indigenous Champa’s cultural heritage is an invaluable cultural asset of the nation and its people, deities together or they could follow just one faith. This form of religious syncretism and it is also one the keys to creating Vietnam’s unique cultural identity. Consequently, may be unique to the Cham communities. The diversity and openness of the Cham together with the preservation and development of the valuable relics and landscapes people’s spirituality was the foundation to instil the value of a diffused material culture in Thua Thien Hue, the conservation and development of the value of Champa cultural that featured the charismatic appeal of the spiritual. It was also the reason behind the heritage must also be posed as an urgent necessity for investing Hue with its deserved intense vitality of Champa cultural heritage which is part of its identity and as such will cultural importance, with unique tourist attractions, and fostering its growth into a never disappear. The more we study it, the more we are fascinated by the innumerable regional, national and international cultural centre. mysteries yet to explore. The cultural and spiritual heritage of Champa was a cornucopia of folkloric treasures such as proverbs, folksongs, myths and legends, stories and fables, poems, dance and music. Practically a “living museum” passed down from one generation to another which reflects vividly the worldviews, knowledge and technical experience, and public life; the dreams and remembrances of every upheaval, of their life, history and ethnicity. Today, the cultural heritage of Champa is a very diverse and plentiful part of Vietnam’s cultural identity. Within the process of integration into the culture of Vietnam, the peculiar Champa cultural heritage has contributed to create a distinctive amalgam in Hue and the culture of Vietnam nowadays. Therefore, the conservation, preservation and development of Champa cultural heritage is essential for safeguarding the cultural heritage of the entire Thua Thien Hue province. As recent research has confirmed, progress has been made in this respect, particularly in the work of collecting research materials and unearthing Cham artefacts. The Ministries of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Thua Thien Hue Museum of History and Revolution, specialized agencies, researchers, citizens and authorities are aware of the need to support initiatives such as archaeological ventures, exchange programs and international cooperation for preserving the heritage of Champa culture. On that basis, if

10 11 Sauro Longhi.Longhi. Rector Università Politecnica delle Marche Le Manh Thanh.Thanh. Vice President Hue University

The presence of Università Politecnica delle Marche (UNIVPM) in Vietnam and its During the process of studying Vietnamese architecture, Italian team was particularly collaboration with Vietnamese universities concerns the quality of Cultural Heritage and interested in the architecture of Champa: a large number of architectural temples, the value of territories. ramparts, sculptures built from the late 7th century to the early 17th century. In particular the interuniversity cooperation with Hue University produced joined With the direction of Fausto Pugnaloni, staff and students of Architecture Department programs aimed at developing scientific research and didactic activities. Several grants of Polytechnic University of Marche and Architecture Faculty of Hue University have been assigned to Vietnamese PhD candidates in the architecture area since 2005. College of Sciences invested considerable effort in the analysis and research of This program rapresented a good help for Vietnamese advancement in the university Cham Towers from Thua Thien Hue to Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan and collected many programs and a real solution for the placement of italo-vietnamese doctors. precious documents. Many conferences have been organized at UNIVPM and Hue This book is a demonstration of the interrelation of a mixed equipe of surveyors, University to exchange information related to Champa architecture with a general historicians, designers. The group produced a demonstration of the value of Champa statement that in the architectural Heritage of Vietnam, Champa architectural art Heritage in the central-south of Vietnam, an architecture with an incomparable value of plays an important role in the flow of history. Due to the ups and downs of history forms and sculpture. and natural disasters, the number of temples are fewer nowadays. However, those The exhibition and the related study study may help the roads of cultural tourism in temples are not only the unique architectural Heritage of national and humanity. Vietnam and may introduce the quality of cultural efforts of Italian and Vietnamese teams. It is also the witness of Champa ancient culture which should be preserved and conserved. On the occasion of 40th anniversary of establishing the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Italia (1973-2013) and the strategic partnership between the two countries on April 2013, at Di Luan Duong, the UNIVPM, Hue University, and Thua Thien Hue of Historical and Revolutionary Museum organized the exhibition and workshop on Champa Culture. Many researchers of architecture, history and culture from universities, research institutes, and managers of monuments attended the workshop with many valuable reports and discussions. The exhibition also attracted staff, students and citizens of Hue City. This book is a valuable material on Champa history, culture and architecture. Its images and articles mentioned in provide us the unique aspects of the art of Champa kingdom located on the marine avenue called “Silk Road on the sea” and are between the major civilizations of Asia. Foreword

12 13 Hoang Van Hien. Vice Rector Hue University of Sciences Thua Thien Hue Province

This work has to be considered as a topic of universal interest of many scientists in Through this study, policy makers and the citizens expect the scientific and objective different fields of history, culture, archeology, architecture, geography, geology and ideas on Champa Cultural Heritages in Central Vietnam such as situations and solutions environment. on conservation, improvement of culture for present and future. This research is a good occasion for leaders, researchers, lecturers and students to I do hope that this project will set up a foundation for the in-depth cooperation between meet, exchange views and review the study on the Cultural Heritage of Champa in the Thua Thien Hue Museum of History and Revolution, Hue University of Sciences, Hue central Vietnam. From thence, it is necessary to advance the appropriate and suitable University and other universities, institutes, international organizations in Italy in the field policies to contribute to preserve and promote the values of cultural heritages, including of education and training, science and technology and academic exchange in the future. tangible heritages and intangible ones in the process of industrialization, modernization In that spirit, once again, I would like to congratulate on the project on the Champa and international integration of Vietnam. Towers system in central Vietnam. We do hope our lecturers and students will have a good chance to share their achievements as well as to learn experience from the Polytechnic University of Marche. Foreword

14 15 Italian Heritage award International Prize for the valorization of Cultural Heritage

Prefaceto theremaininggroups. recognition asaglobalheritage ofmankind,recognitionwhichwehopewillbe extended The latterhasbeenincluded ininternationalitinerariesthankstohavingalready gained Nhan, Po Nagar, HoaLai,Po KlongGarai, Po Dam,PhuHai,BinhLam, Po MySon. Rome, Dan, KhuongMy, PhuocLoc, DuongLong, ThuThien,BanhIt,CanhTien,HungThanh, documenting the groups of Champa Towers currently existing:PhuDien,BangAn,Chien to thetowers’decorativeandsculpturalelements) by meansofanexplorativejourney comprising DaNangCity,museum itinerary NinhThuanandBinhDinh(mainlydedicated results presentedinthebooksupplementmaterial alreadyaccessiblethroughthe apposite contexttopromotetheinternationalvalueof theChampaheritage.Theresearch since 1993andaplaceofculturalrelevancetouristic interest,wasconsideredan to themainentranceofFortified Citadel.ThecityofHue,aUNESCOheritagesite Museum situatednext towers systemincentralVietnam”organizedHueattheHistory was inauguratedbytheconference“Sustainableroutesforculturaltourism:Champa relations betweenVietnamandItaly, in1973;theCHAMPA started TOWERSEXHIBITION The researchresultedinanexhibitionorganizedtocelebratethe40yearsofbilateral building processoftheTower complex. chronological indicators,theconstructionstages,materialdecayovertime,and and criticalstratigraphicreadingstointerpretthefragmentedinformation, campaigns and historical-criticalanalysis,itwasdevelopedthroughexploratory operations of documentation with preliminary The methodologicalprocess started oftheculturalheritageandinternalization of cultural sites. themes ofpreservation of experimentingeducationalandplanningactivitiestovalidatereflectiononthekey The universityresearchprojectonChampaArchitecturewasdevelopedwiththeaim recognition andculturalidentity. for thedevelopmentofcentral-southernVietnam,basedonrelevantthemesterritorial organizations wascentredaroundtheidentificationofstrategiesandcoursesaction Since theendofninetiesacademiccollaborationbetweenUNIVPMandVietnamese theauthors