Champa ruins in Quy Nhon – Binh Dinh

Binh Dinh is the keeper of invaluable cultural heritage of Champa. The Cham ruins in Binh Dinh is very diverse but the most unique and attrative one to tourists are moss-covered ancient towers.

1. Binh Lam Tower

Binh Lam Tower is the ancient Cham tower in Binh Lam hamlet, Phuoc Hoa commune, Tuy Phuoc district, 22km away from Quy Nhon city. This is a relatively special tower in Binh Dinh, where it lies right in the delta and blended in with surrounding nature and residents instead of being located on a hill. The tower has square foundation, 10 meter long in each side, and is 20 meter high, divided into 3 floors, decorated with subtle, harmonious and strong architectural patterns. The tower is recognized by Ministry of Culture and Information as an architectural and art vestige in 1993.

2. Bánh Ít Tower (Silver Tower)

In the late 11th century and early 12th century in Phuoc Hiep Commune, Tuy Phuoc, the tower was built on top of a hill lying between two branches of Kon River, Tan An an Ganh Bridge, next to National Highway 1A, 20km away from Quy Nhon City. This is a complex consisting of 4 towers, which looks so similar to a sticky rice cake that local people call it Bánh Ít Tower (Sticky rice cake tower). Upon doing researching on this complex architecture, the French called it Tour d’Argent, which means Silver Tower.

Each of the four towers presents a different style and shade. In terms of art, of all Cham towers remaining in Vietnam territory, Bánh Ít complex is a unique architecture which is diverse, well-decorated and carries high artistic value. This cluster of towers is recognized by Ministry of Culture and Information as an architectural and art vestige in 1982.

3. Fairy Wing Tower (Brass Tower)

The tower was built inside the site of Do Ban vestige in Nhon Hau commune, An Nhon, in 12th century. A special feature of Canh Tien Tower is that the inner part of the walls is panelled with sandstone tiles carved with twisted rope patterns. The tower was shaped elegantly yet solemnly. The towers has 4 tiers with reducing size moving upwards, each of which has four decorative corners. In each corner are small tiles leavening on each other which resemble the wings of flying bird.

In addition, the four sides look like soaring fairy’s wings, resulting in the name of Fairy Wing Tower. The tower was built in the reign of Kinh Che Man, in which legend has it that this tower was dedicated to Paramecvari queen aka Princess Huyen Tran, the Vietnamese girl who had married him. The tower has been recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information as architectural and art vestige in 1982.

4. Twin Towers (Hưng Thạnh Tower)

Built in the late 12th century in Dong Da Ward, Quy Nhon City, the tower is a beautiful and unique architecture of two towers. Twin towers is classified as “one of the kind” architecture of Champa. Both towers do not follow the traditional multi-storey square tower of Cham towers, yet it comprise two main parts: square foundation and the pyramid-like top. In the corners of the top part are statues of Garuda birds spreading their wings as if they are holding onto the tower roof. The upper door arches soar up as arrows. The architecture of the Twin Towers is under the influence of Hindu art. This tower of is recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information as Architectural and Art vestige in 1980

5. Duong Long Tower (Ivory Tower)

The Tower was built in the late twelfth century at Tay Binh Commune, Tay Son District, 50km away from Quy Nhon City. This is the golden era of Champa culture. This architecture cluster consists of three towers: the one in the middle is 40 meters high while the two on the side are 38 meters high. The bodies of the towers are of made of brick while the corners are assembled from large elaborately carved stones.

Duong Long Tower is not only large by its height (i.e the highest of all remaining Cham Towers in Vietnam) but also famous for its unique architecture, especially the patterns, textures carved directly on massive stones right on top of the tower by find sculptors. The carvings are gorgeous and delicately elegant at the same time, while the carved animals and patterns are lively yet mystical. Duong Long Tower is considered one of the most beautiful Cham Towers in Vietnam. The Tower is recognized by Ministry of Culture and Information as Architectural and Art vestige in 1980 and ranked by the Prime Minister as a special national monument on 23/12/2015.

6. Phu Loc Tower (Gold Tower)

Phu Loc Tower is also known as Thoc Loc tower, or Phoc Loc tower, or Gold Tower (Tour d’Or) as by the French researchers. The Tower is an acient Cham Tower in Nhon Thanh Commune, An Nhon, which is 35km north of Quy Nhon City. As the tower was built on a hilltop of 76 meter high, it stands out in the delta of Binh Dinh Province just like a giant lighthouse. The tower stands haughtily beautiful yet sad. From the foot of the tower, visitors can spread their views to all four directions towards the great surrounding landscape. The tower is recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information as Architectural and Art vestige in 1995.

7. Thu Thien Tower

The tower was built on a relatively small area, south of Kon River, Binh Nghi Commune, Tay Son District, 35km northwest from Quy Nhon. The Tower is a small and elegantly mystical design. This tower is recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information as Architectural and Art vestige in 1995.

8. Hon Chuong Tower

Updating…

Read more: Quy Nhon Daily Tours

(Binh Dinh Tourism Promotion Information Center)