31/07/2026
PRELIMINARY REPORT ON THE EMERGENCY ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION OF NAM CHON STATION AND CHON SANG FORTRESS (DA NANG)
On July 30, 2026, in Da Nang, the Da Nang Relics and Landscape Management Board, in collaboration with the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences), held a seminar to report the preliminary results of the emergency archaeological excavation at Nam Chon Station and Chon Sang Fortress (Hai Van Ward, Da Nang).
The emergency excavation covered a total area of 600m² (Nam Chon Station: 300m² and Chon Sang Fortress: 300m²). The excavation team led by Dr. Pham Van Trieu.
📍 At Nam Chon Station: The excavation trenches clearly revealed structures of defensive walls, moats, stone embankments, and central architectural traces. The central area features brick foundations, stone borders, and column bases, indicating the existence of a solid Nguyen Dynasty structure. The pathway system and traces of a brick-built, tile-roofed gate in the Northwest were also identified, helping to clarify the overall layout of the site.
📍 At Chon Sang Fortress: The excavation uncovered the architectural foundation of the center, which includes the Main and Front halls in a royal architectural style, along with stone stairs, terraced foundations, and two stone-built guard posts at the West and South corners. Notably, within the cultural layer beneath the Nguyen Dynasty period, the team discovered a sandstone relief in the Champa style, tentatively dating back to the 8th century. This is the earliest artifact found in the area and holds special value for the study of Champa history and culture in the Hai Van region.
Scientists evaluated that these initial archaeological findings provide important data to identify the scale, structure, and function of the Nam Chon - Chon Sang complex within the Nguyen Dynasty's Da Nang Bay defense system. The results also help verify historical records, ancient maps, and Western documents related to the southern foot of the Hai Van Pass.
