The heritage-rich central province of Quang Nam has been surveying over 200 relics in ancient Hoi An town thanks to assistance provided by Japanese universities and organisations.

Hoi An is one of the two world heritage sites recognised by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Quang Nam .

The programme has over the past decade enabled the province to excavate 10 archeological sites, salvage ship wrecks off the Cu Lao Cham islands, and conduct a US $50,000 research project on Sa Huynh culture. The Sa Huynh culture, that dates between 1000 BC-AD 200, was the name given to the umfield (jar burials) culture on the coastal plains of central and south Vietnam .

Japan has also doled out over VND 4 billion and sent experts to aid in the conservation of 10 ancient houses and two ancient tombs. A number of Japanese historians have worked in Hoi An to study Southeast Asian cultures. (VNA)