The Khanh Hoa Cultural Heritage Conservation Centre said on February 3 it had asked the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism for approval to temporarily stop staging an art programme at the special national monument of Ponagar Tower in Bac Nha Trang Ward.
The centre said it staged 16 performances between January and December 2025, held on full moon and first lunar days each month at the Cham monument.
The shows were carefully produced, met artistic standards and received positive feedback from some local residents and visitors, according to the centre.
However, only about 400 tickets were sold across all 16 performances, generating revenue of VND 12 million (about USD 490). By contrast, the cost of contracting the provincial traditional arts theatre was VND 8.5 million per show, bringing total performance costs to VND 136 million (roughly USD 5,500), excluding other expenses.
From an economic perspective, the centre said the programme failed to balance revenue and expenditure, forcing it to draw heavily on its regular operating budget. As a result, the programme did not meet its original goals, particularly in terms of economic efficiency and long-term sustainability.
The centre warned that maintaining the programme under current conditions would continue to place heavy pressure on funding, staffing and organisational capacity.
It has therefore proposed suspending the performances to allow for a comprehensive review, including adjustments to content and format or the development of alternative cultural and artistic products, before submitting revised plans to competent authorities for consideration.
Ponagar Tower is a representative Cham architectural complex located on Cu Lao hill by the Cai River in Khanh Hoa Province. In 2025, it was designated a special national monument by the Prime Minister.