Society - Culture

Scientific seminar “Heritage Bridge” at Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture

Translated by KIM OANH • 18/05/2026 15:40

DNO - On the morning of May 18, the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, in collaboration with the French School of Asian Studies (EFEO), held a scientific seminar titled “Heritage Bridge - From the Establishment of EFEO’s Henri Parmentier Museum to the Development of the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture”.

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Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture and EFEO announce 2026 - 2028 cooperation agreement.

The event was held in celebration of International Museum Day (May 18) under the theme “Museums Uniting a Divided World”, aiming to honour heritage values and reaffirm the cooperative relationship between the two institutions.

The seminar brought together experts from the EFEO offices in Paris and Hanoi, representatives of the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, and domestic researchers.

The seminar discussed several key topics, including EFEO’s mission in Vietnam in the early 20th century and its pioneering role in establishing museum and library systems as well as conducting archaeological excavations in Vietnam from 1900 to 1954.

The discussions also focused on the birth of the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture and the role of Henri Parmentier, providing an overview of the historical journey from the Tourane sculpture garden to the establishment of the Henri Parmentier Museum through the persistent efforts of French and Vietnamese scholars.

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Philippe Le Failler, Head of EFEO’s Hanoi office, presents at the seminar.

Other presentations examined archival gaps and future documentation plans for the museum, along with restoration work on Cham sandstone sculptures conducted between 2001 and 2010 through cooperation among the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, EFEO, and the Guimet Museum.

The project marked a major milestone in artefact restoration and upgrading the museum’s My Son and Dong Duong exhibition galleries.

Alongside the seminar, the museum introduced a thematic exhibition space featuring more than 40 valuable archival photographs from EFEO’s collections.

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Visitors view photos on display at the seminar.

The exhibition took visitors back in time through historical images documenting the formation of the original sculpture garden, the concept behind the museum’s first building, and the expansion of the institution under the name “Henri Parmentier Museum” during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

On this occasion, the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture and EFEO also announced a new cooperation agreement for the 2026 - 2028 period.

Translated by KIM OANH