The Go Thap relic site (Vietnamese: Khu di tích Gò Tháp) was discovered and described by French archaeologists at the end of the 19th century, and was named Prasat Pream Loven (Pagoda of five compartments). Through numerous excavations, research, and validation, the Go Thap relic area contains numerous cultural relics of the ancient Funan kingdom, which existed more than 2,000 years ago, including artifacts associated with the Oc Eo culture. Archaeologists have discovered at this site numerous types of relics, including residential remains, burial sites, and architectural features, distributed across a wide area. In particular, the Gods Vishnu and Shiva, made of sandstone and engraved with patterns and inscriptions, were found.

Typical relics in the Go Thap relic area

The Go Thap relic complex comprises six typical relics: Thap Muoi Hill; Co Tu Tower; the temple that worships Mr. Nguyen Tan Kieu and his grave; Minh Su Hill; the Vo Duy Duong Temple; and the Lady Chua Xu Temple.

Thap Muoi Hill Relic

Thap Muoi Hill, or Thap Hill, is the principal and most important relic in the Thap Muoi Relics Area. Thap Muoi Hill is approximately 3.8 m higher than the surrounding fields and covers an area of approximately 4,500 m².

Surveys by French archaeologist L. Malleret (1944) revealed that on Thap Muoi Hill there were many bricks and dozens of large stone blocks, columns, and other architectural elements.

Thap Muoi Hill

In addition to the discoveries of French scholars at the Go Thap relic, after 1975, Vietnamese archaeologists continued to research and discover more details about the foundation structure of the Go Thap relic built during the period of the Funan Kingdom (existed in the 1st-7th centuries), with many archaeological artifacts of historical and cultural value.

The most obvious vestige is the brick architecture, 17.30 m long in the East-West direction and 12m wide (North-South), symmetrical in the North-South direction, indicating that the architecture is large-scale and related to many other surrounding structures.

Relics include pieces of ceramic pots, fragments of Yoni, molds, artefacts, and, in particular, 02 Vishnu statues belonging to the Oc Eo civilisation. To date, among the stone steles reflecting the Funan kingdom, there is one stele found at Go Thap relic, dated by researchers to the 5th century. The inscription states that this is the swamp area conquered by King Funan Jayavarman and that he appointed his son Gunavarman to administer it. On the hill, there are many ancient trees hundreds of years old; in particular, the Sterculia foetida tree has been recognized as a Vietnamese heritage tree.

Go Thap relic site

Minh Su Hill

Minh Su Hill is located approximately 400m north-northeast of Thap Muoi Hill. The hill is 3.96m high, approximately 1,200 m² in area, and is square-shaped. Minh Su Hill is a residential relic and burial site of the Funan people in the Thap Muoi Relic Area complex. Remains of habitation are distributed at the foot of the mound and widely throughout the surrounding low fields.

Minh Su Hill
Characteristics and stratigraphy of Minh Su Hill indicate that the site was used for residence and burial for an extended period, approximately from the 1st to the 8th century AD. Many rare terracotta and metal artifacts have been found here.

Lady Chua Xu Temple

Lady Chua Xu Hill was excavated in 1973. Archaeologists brought to the surface a fairly large structure located within the mound, measuring 20.90 x 13.40m, with different long and short corners. The floor and foundation have brick squares, in some places up to 1.4 meters thick.

Lady Chua Xu temple

Although the structure above has been destroyed, archaeologists can also base their determination on traces of the foundation and on remaining architectural stone fragments to conclude that a well-built Hindu temple, dating to the 6th century, stood on the site. The temple consists of three compartments; the middle one is dedicated to the Lady Chaa Xu. 

Co Tu Tower

Co Tu Tower (Thap Linh Pagoda), located about 100 meters north of Thap Muoi Hill, was built by Emperor Thieu Tri (1841-1847). In front, there is also a worshipping tower of the Chenla. This pagoda was formerly located at Thap Muoi and was moved here by the Ngo Dinh Diem government. However, it was destroyed in 1956. Currently, this ancient pagoda has been replaced by a new, more beautiful and spacious one, thanks to contributions from local residents.

Co Tu Temple

Right next to the pagoda is a temple called Hoang Co Temple, which worships Nguyen Anh’s sister (Emperor Gia Long).

Tomb of Nguyen Tan Kieu and Tomb of Vo Duy Duong

These are Vietnamese heroes of the uprising against French colonial rule in the second half of the 19th century.

Nguyen Duy Duong Temple

Unique antiques in the Go Thap relic site

Artifacts in architectural relics and tombs are extremely rich in materials and unique in their types and styles. Precious artifacts include a group of gold artifacts, a group of wooden statues, and two stone steles that have text.

The group of gold artifacts in Go Thap comprises more than 300 pieces, carved with images of gods, mascots, patterns… Inscriptions on these gold pieces indicate inconsistent age, reflecting Indian cultural influence over a long period, from the 4th to the 5th centuries BC to the 5th century AD. 

Go Thap relic site

The Thap Muoi relic area is also renowned for wooden Buddha statues, typical of Buddhist art in Oc Eo culture. Many wooden statues were discovered accidentally while digging fields and farming, in all sizes.

The scale of the architecture, the content of the relic collection, and the waterway system in the Thap Muoi relic site have shown that this area was once an important religious and cultural center from the 4th century to the 8th century, not only of the Dong Thap Muoi region but also of the Mekong Delta as a whole.

Compared with many archaeological sites, the Thap Muoi relic site is notable for the discovery of a large number of diverse artifacts, ranging from everyday utensils at residential sites to precious offerings in temples and towers to custom objects. Sacred burials in tombs, from architectural ruins of temples, towers, and worship statues, inscriptions to house ruins, kitchen floors… 

Go Thap relic site

Festival in Go Thap relic site

Every year, at Go Thap archaeological relic, a festival is held to commemorate the merits of the Lady Chaa Xu – March 15 (lunar calendar) and two national heroes, Vo Duy Duong and Nguyen Tan Kieu – November 15 (lunar calendar).

festival in Go Thap relic site

During the festival, many cultural, spiritual, and folk performances attract the attention of local residents and tourists from around the world.

Due to its historical, cultural, and scientific value, the Go Thap relic site has been designated a Heritage Site by the Ministry of Culture and Information.

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Go Thap relic site