Truong Luy, the so-called “Great Wall of Vietnam”, is a unique rampart which has great architectural values and historical meaning, say all recent researches. However, it is being destroyed everyday in Binh Dinh province.
* Many parts of the wall are being destroyed
Part of the wall locates at residential areas in An Lao suburban district. Vestiges of the wall can be found quite easily at the back of An Lao Medical Centre. “At the time the medical centre was being built, local government didn’t know what the soil and rock wall was. Consequently, the government let the wall to be leveled out”, said Mr. Do Minh Thanh, an official of An Lao Office of Culture and Sport.
Locating near the residential areas, the wall has been being destroyed seriously. Local ethnic minority people removed the “solid barrier” without any hesitation while they were burning off to clear land for farming. Many people even took off the rocks to use for their own purposes, added Thanh.
The rampart in Binh Dinh stretches over 30km in length, passing through 2 suburban districts of Hoai Nhon and An Lao. The part in Hoai Nhon locates at mountainous area of Hoai Son commune, far away from residential areas. Yet, the wall section here has been also ruined. During a field trip in this March, we found many roads which went through the wall, leaving the broken off wall. Military forts along the wall where have flat surfaces were becoming manioc fields. Acacia auriculiformis trees were growing on the 1-metre-wide surface of the wall. No one dares to ensure the wall won’t be leveled out as the manioc fields were expanding towards it.
* Need preservation
The destruction of the wall at An Lao has taking place for such a long time but the local government can’t stop the action. There is no legal reason for punishment because the wall portion in Binh Dinh hasn’t been recognized as a national historical relic, says Mr. Hoang Ngoc Thanh, Head of An Lao Office of Culture and Sport. The office has once suggested An Lao People’s Committee that a communication campaign on raising local people’s awareness of the wall protection should be launched. However, the campaign hasn’t been held so far because the higher cultural administration doesn’t pay much concern.
In contrast, the wall in Quang Ngai neighbouring province was recognized as the National Historical Relic because the provincial government actively prepared file to summit the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The rampart stretches over 9 districts of the 2 provinces. Parts of the wall are being destroyed. It is important to protect the whole wall as a way of preservation the national relic.
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