QUẢNG NAM — More than 80 examples of mộc bản (wood blocks) and châu bản (official administrative manuscripts) used by Kings of the Nguyễn dynasty (1802-1945) are on display at an exhibition in Hội An.

The exhibition presents items related to the founding of Quảng Nam and Hội An in 1471, as well as important pieces on the development of the province.

The exhibition, organised by the city’s People’s Committee in collaboration with the State Archives of Việt Nam, is part of the 6th Quảng Nam Heritage Festival.

Visitors can explore the carvings of Han Chinese or ancient Vietnamese Nôm ideographic scripts at the city’s conservation and heritage management centre at 10B Trần Hưng Đạo Street in Hội An.

The event lasts until June 16.

Both mộc bản and châu bản were recognised by the UN cultural agency UNESCO as a World Documentary Heritage in the Memory of the World Programme in 2009.  

Also during the festival on June 9-14, the Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary in Duy Xuyên District will host an exhibition of heritages of Chăm towers in the coastal central region from Huế to Ninh Thuận Province.

The Chăm towers were built to honour Champa kings, who ruled the region between the 4th and 13th centuries.

Rural market launched

Tiên Phước District in the central province of Quảng Nam has debuted a rural market in Tiên Kỳ town as a new eco-tourism site, also part of the 6th Quảng Nam Heritage Festival.

Vice chairman of the district Phùng Văn Huy said the market, which has been built on an area of 1 hectare, offers pavilions and stalls of farm produce, forestry products and local cuisine from 15 communes in the district.

Tiên Phước is known as a centre of aloe wood and essential oil production from the aromatic wood.

Huy said the market will open daily from this month to host tourists from Hội An, Tam Kỳ and Đà Nẵng.

The district also launched the ancient village of Lộc Yên as a new destination in connection with world heritage sites in Hội An, Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary and world biosphere Chàm Island-Hội An in the province.

The village, which is known for its centuries-old houses with stone pathways, still preserves houses, nature and the lifestyle of the villagers from 200 years ago.

The district will host an exhibition of the best 46 photos during a photo contest of the district’s land and people from last year.

The district was established in the central province in late 1816, during the Nguyễn dynasty, under the reign of King Khải Định. Tiên Phước became a base for revolutionary forces during the anti-French war and was the headquarters of the liberation army during the American war. — VNS