Two months after the capital city’s great anniversary, the biggest drum in
Vietnam, the gift of the Hanoi Fine Art Handicraft Association to the Thang
Long Royal Citadel, has begun to deteriorate.

This drum was used at the opening and the closing ceremony
of Thang Long-Hanoi’s 1000th anniversary.

Le Giang To, Vice Chair of the Hanoi Fine Art Handicraft
Association, said that after the anniversary, the drum was placed in the
backyard of Kinh Thien palace in the Thang Long Royal Citadel. Under sunlight
and rains, it began to deteriorate.

The drum, with a diameter of 3.15m, is the largest drum in Vietnam and perhaps Southeast
Asia.

It is made by jackfruit wood and buffalo skin. Artisan Pham
Chi Tinh and the most skilled workers of the drum making village
of Doi Tam in Ha Nam province,
worked for three months to make the drum.

“If the drum is well maintained, its lifespan may reach up
to 300 years. But the face of the drum is being ruined because of rain,
sunlight, wind and mold. I’m very
unhappy to see the drum being ruined day by day,” To said.

On December 4, To and drum-maker Pham Chi Tinh sent a letter
to Hanoi authorities and the Center for Preservation of Co Loa Relic and Hanoi
Ancient Citadel to ask for timely solutions to save the spiritual drum.

On December 8 the drum was still in the backyard of Kinh Thien
Palace, but it was
covered by a canvas.

Phan Duy Thang, Deputy Director of the Center for
Preservation of Co Loa Relic and Hanoi Ancient Citadel, admitted that the
center didn’t preserve the drum well. He said there is no suitable place to
contain the drum because it is too tall.

Thang said the drum is covered by a canvas during rain. Once
it is sunny, the canvas is taken off.

“We will build a canvas to keep the drum,” Thang promised.

PV