Da Nang's culture department has proposed lifting the 600-year-old shipwreck that surfaced off Hoi An in one piece and moving it to the grounds of the Hoi An Museum, with excavation planned for March 2027, Tuoi Tre reported. The plan follows the emergency excavation approval reported earlier and still needs the city government's agreement.
The ship was discovered in December 2023 beneath coastal sand in Hoi An Tay Ward and is believed to date from the 14th to 16th centuries. Waves have exposed its timbers several times, most recently in July 2026, when the exposed wood had moss growing on it and showed weathering.
The proposed plan
- Protection now: for this storm season, a barrier of Geotube sand-filled tubes, geotextile fabric and a sand cover to reduce wave and current damage and erosion, without touching the remains.
- Excavation: an archaeological dig followed by lifting the hull in one piece, planned for March 2027 when weather is favourable.
- Conservation: a purpose-built tank at the museum to treat the timbers in two stages, a soak to remove salt and a soak in specialist chemicals. The process is expected to take about two years.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has agreed in principle to emergency excavation and asked Da Nang to work with specialist agencies and plan the transfer and conservation carefully to avoid damaging the remains. The department is asking the city to agree an overall plan soon.
Sources
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