Ancient shipwreck washes ashore in Hoi An

The location of the shipwreck lies about 400 meters offshore from the former Cam An Ward People’s Committee office, near An Bang Beach.

The World Heritage Conservation Centre of Hoi An and local authorities promptly arrived to secure the site and begin efforts to identify the vessel’s origins.

The shipwreck’s frame, revealed after the storm, is believed to be the same as the one first discovered by residents in December 2023 at Thinh My Beach, where only several wooden beams were initially visible.

After carbon isotope dating confirmed its significant age, the site was naturally reburied by sand in January 2024.

Survey results later indicated that the shipwreck originally lay beneath coastal sand dunes in Cam An, about 700 - 800 meters inland from the shoreline as it was in 1905.

However, severe coastal erosion over the past century has dramatically altered the landscape, bringing the site much closer to the sea today.

The wooden frame, curving along the hull, remains visible above the sand and retains much of its original structure.

In 2024, the Hoi An World Heritage Centre, in cooperation with experts from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City, conducted an in-depth study of the shipwreck.

Their report described the vessel as large and robust, with a hybrid construction combining Southeast Asian and Chinese shipbuilding traditions.

The ship was made from Southeast Asian woods such as ‘bang lang’ and ‘kien kien’, along with imported Chinese pine, and sealed with a resinous substance to prevent seawater intrusion.

These structural characteristics suggest it was built for long sea voyages, possibly for regional trade or even naval expeditions.

Preliminary analysis estimates the ship was more than 17.8 meters long with about 12 compartments.

Although absolute dating has yet to be confirmed, available evidence points to a possible origin between the mid-14^th and 16^th centuries.

Researchers believe the shipwreck represents a rare maritime treasure - remarkably intact compared to other traditional vessels found in the East Sea, across East and Southeast Asia.

“The ship’s survival is an extraordinary stroke of historical luck”, the report noted, highlighting its importance as physical evidence of pre-modern maritime activity before Western navigation reached the region.

Architectural conservation specialist Pham Phu Ngoc, the Deputy Director of the World Heritage Conservation Centre of Hoi An, said preservation staff have taken preliminary measurements of the vessel and will submit a detailed report after a city-level survey team visits early next week.

According to this expert, whether the ship will be salvaged or kept in situ depends on field conditions.

“Salvaging is not difficult, but post-recovery preservation poses a major challenge. Without a controlled environment, the artifacts could deteriorate rapidly”, he explained.

“This is an important piece of evidence of ancient maritime trade along the Hoi An sea route - once one of the busiest in the region” , Ngoc added.

He also noted that all options will be carefully considered, potentially involving both domestic and international experts, including those from Japan, in the preservation process.