Vo Van Tai, chairman of the De Gi Commune People’s Committee in Gia Lai Province, said on May 19 that a consulting unit was finalising design documents for submission to authorities seeking approval for an investment project connecting Hon Chuong tower.
According to Tai, the road project will not only improve access to the historic site but also create opportunities to develop cultural and historical tourism linked to the national heritage area of Ba Mountain.
In recent years, Hon Chuong has increasingly attracted visitors, especially adventure travellers and mountain climbers.
Hon Chuong tower stands on a mountain peak nearly 800 metres high and remains a mystery to researchers (Photo: Gia Lai Province Museum).
The tower lies on the western side of De Gi Commune within the Ba Mountain range, a vast complex featuring 66 peaks. The highest peak, Hon Vung, rises 880 metres above sea level, while Hon Chuong stands at 779 metres, the second highest in the range.
During the war against the US, the area served as an important revolutionary base. The wider Ba Mountain complex contains 22 locations recognised as national historical and scenic heritage sites since 1994.
Situated nearly 800 metres above sea level, Hon Chuong is regarded as the Cham tower built at the highest altitude in Vietnam. Seen from afar, the mountain resembles a giant bell resting upside down, while the ancient Cham tower stands atop a rock formation around 50 metres high.
The structure measures roughly 7 metres in height, with each side about 8.5 metres long. The square-shaped tower rises vertically before tapering towards the top.
Unlike many other Cham towers, Hon Chuong has no decorative patterns on its exterior walls, giving it a distinctive appearance within Cham Pa architecture.
Researchers have yet to determine the tower’s exact original purpose. Some theories suggest it served as a religious site, a military observation post or even an ancient lighthouse guiding ships toward the coast.
Based on fragments of curved roof tiles discovered at the site, scholars believe the tower may date back to between the 11th and 13th centuries.
Hon Chuong tower is a Cham Pa relic dating back nearly 1,000 years (Photo: Gia Lai Province Museum).
Previously, Gia Lai authorities approved investment plans for the road project connecting to Hon Chuong tower with total funding of VND 125 billion (approximately USD 4.8 million).
Under the approved proposal, the project will be managed by the De Gi Commune People’s Committee and involve construction of a road more than 6km long. The road surface will be 6.5 metres wide and built with cement concrete suitable for mountainous terrain.
The project is expected to be completed in 2027.