(QNO) - Da Nang currently has nine national treasures, all belonging to the Cham culture, which are preserved at the Museum of Cham Sculpture.
Currently, the Relief of Brahma's Birth, along with the Relief of Apsara and the Statue of Shiva, are among the museum's most recently recognized national treasures.
In the museum’s earlier recognition phase in 2012, when only 30 national treasures were acknowledged across the country, the Cham Sculpture Museum already contributed three artifacts: the Tra Kieu Altar, the My Son E1 Altar, and the Tara Bodhisattva Statue. Subsequent recognitions included the Dong Duong Altar, the Ganesha Statue, and the Gajasimha Statue.
With most artifacts crafted from sandstone, their preservation is supported by well-maintained infrastructure that ensures the statues and reliefs are in excellent condition.
From the moment visitors step into the museum, they encounter user-friendly guidance and warning systems to protect the artifacts, particularly the national treasures, from damage.
Between 2005 and 2015, the museum welcomed over 200,000 visitors annually on average. By 2018, this number exceeded 300,000 per year, with 90% being international visitors.
Tourism has now recovered post-pandemic, and while it has yet to reach pre-pandemic levels, the number of visitors to the museum has rebounded significantly.
Currently, three additional artifacts are under review for national treasure status.