New excavations in Vietnam's Kon Tum province have revealed the foundations of a 6th-century brick temple dedicated to the Hindu deity Ganesha. Attributed to the Early-Cham civilization, the site provides tangible evidence of the spread of Shaivism and Ganapatya traditions deep into the Southeast Asian interior. The temple features a unique stepped-pyramid base and brickwork bonded with a mysterious organic resin.
A well-preserved sandstone idol of a four-armed Ganesha was found within the central cella, showing stylistic links to the late Gupta period of India. This discovery is expected to reshape understanding of early Hindu influence and trade networks between the Indian subcontinent and ancient Champa.