On the afternoon of December 16, 2025, the Vietnam National Museum of History (VNMH) hosted a meeting with the delegation of the Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, led by Mr. Chen Wei Dong - Head of the Archaeological Team.
The reception was held as a part of the Institute's working visit to Vietnam, aimed to promote professional exchange and strengthen bilateral cooperation in archaeological research and heritage conservation.
The delegation was received by Mr. Nguyen Van Doan, Director of the VNMH, together with managers and staff from the Department of Archaeology and the Department of Exhibition and External Relations.
Panoramic photo of the meeting at the VNMH
During their stay in Vietnam from December 1 to December 17, 2025, the Chinese delegation conducted extensive field surveys at several Bronze Age archaeological sites in northern Vietnam. The experts also studied archaeological collections at various provincial museums, including those in Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, Ninh Binh, Bac Ninh, and Hanoi.
These surveys provided the delegation with a comprehensive overview of the Bronze Age in Vietnam. Notably, the Dong Dau site was identified as a particularly important archaeological site, demonstrating a clear and continuous cultural succession from the Phung Nguyen to the Dong Son cultures.
Beyond archaeological sites, the delegation surveyed several museums from an ethnographic perspective and highly appreciated the preservation and documentation of ethnographic materials in Vietnam. The collections not only vividly reflect the daily life of ethnic communities, but also include objects associated with traditional rituals, providing valuable comparative data with similar sites in China, especially the Sanxingdui site in Sichuan Province.
Based on their findings, the delegation emphasized the outstanding significance of the Dong Dau site, whose cultural layers reflect diverse aspects of the socio-economic life and technological level of ancient inhabitants. Accordingly, the delegation recommended adopting an interdisciplinary research approach to fully uncover the site’s historical and scientific values. Both sides discussed a plan for joint excavation plan for Dong Dau, which is expected to be implemented in 2026, subject to favorable conditions.
The year 2026 also marks the 20th anniversary of the joint excavation at the Nghia Lap site (Phu Tho Province) conducted by the two institutions. To celebrate this milestone, the Sichuan Institute proposed organizing commemorative activities in China and invited the VNMH to coordinate and support these efforts.
During the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Van Doan expressed his agreement with the delegation's assessments. He affirmed the Museum's readiness to streamline professional procedures and prepare the necessary conditions to ensure that future joint excavations and research projects are executed effectively and meet high scientific standards.
The meeting contributed to further strengthening the long-standing partnership between the Vietnam National Museum of History and the Sichuan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology.
The two sides took a commemorative photograph.
Thu Hien