Lam Dong (VNA) – The People’s Committee of the central province of Lam Dong officially announced the recognition of the Bac Binh Avalokitesvara Statue, dating back to the 8th–9th centuries, as a national treasure at a ceremony on September 14.

Carved from distinctive gray-black sandstone, the masterpiece stands 61 centimetres tall and weighs 13 kilogrammes. It was discovered by local farmers before 1945 while they were clearing land for cultivation in Bac Binh. The artefact was hidden in a local garden in 1996 and, in 2001, transferred to the Museum of former Binh Thuan province, now part of Lam Dong, for management, preservation, and display.

Bac Binh Avalokitesvara is an outstanding work of the Champa-era sculpture art, reflecting the strong convergence of the Cham and Indian cultures. It represents a transitional period from the visual art style of the 8th–9th centuries to the golden age of Cham artistry that flourished in the 9th–10th centuries. Boasting excellent historical, artistic, and scientific values, the statue provides crucial insights into the religious and sculptural traditions of the Champa kingdom.

At the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Dinh Van Tuan emphasised the need to promote communications about the treasure’s values, helping raise public awareness, attract visitors, and contribute to local cultural tourism development.

The event also featured musical and artistic performances, culinary showcases, and traditional craft demonstrations from local ethnic groups. Visitors also explored exhibitions on regional culture, heritage, and landscapes.

Lam Dong is now home to seven UNESCO-recognised elements, namely the space of the gong culture in the Central Highlands, the Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark, the art of Don Ca Tai Tu music and song, the art of pottery making of the Cham people, the Woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty, the Langbiang Biosphere Reserve, and Da Lat’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Music.

The province also boasts 10 national intangible cultural heritage items, three special national relics, and 144 historical, cultural and scenic landscape sites recognised by the State.

♈ The Lam Dong Museum is preserving 112,235 valuable artefacts, including three national treasures: the Dak Son Lithophone, the Golden Linga, and the Bac Binh Avalokitesvara Statue, according to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism./.