1. We have just heard the reports by representatives of the co- chairmen of the three sub-committees on the results of the discussions held at the sub-committees:
- Report by Professor Tran Quoc Vuong of the Archaeology and Culture Sub-Committee
- Report by Professor Kawamoto Kunie of the History Sub-Committee
- Report by Professor Chihara Daigoro and Architect Hoang Dao Kinh of the Architecture and Preservation Sub-Committee.
2. During the opening session held on the morning of 22 March 1990 and during the two sittings on the after of 22 March and on the morning of 23 March 1990 at the three sub-committees, the Symposiu heard and discussed 38 scientific reports Vietnamese and foreign scientists. The reports have approached Hoi An from different specialize angles, ranging from geo-environment, archaeology to history, culture linguistics. Architecture, preservation, all arming to held to clarify the process of formation and development of Hoi An in the course of history, from the Sa Huynh-Champa culture period before the 15th century to the birth, prosperity and decline of the commercial port of Hoi An from the 16-17th century until now; the relationship between Hoi An and the various zones in the country, between Hoi An and Southeast Asian countries. China. Jaoan and a number of Western countries; the characteristics and values of the site of the ancient town of Hoi An, as well as the orientation for the protection; restoration and use of the site at present and in the future.
3. An achievement that should be highly valued is that the Symposium has helped further enrich the data foundations of Hoi An by new data just discovered and exploited. Through investigations, surveys and archaeological excavations, Vietnamese scientists have discovered many historical remains and traces left behind by the Sa Huynh-Champa culture and the Viet culture throughout history, such as. Vietnamese and foreign pottery, porcelain and ancient coins; they have collected many epitaphs, annals of families who had resided here for a long time, materials on traditional handicrafts and popular cultural festivities; they have made files and drawn maps of Hoi An's ancient architectural vestiges. The scope of investigation and survey has been extended beyond the ancient section, involving many vestiges related to Hoi An in the past. Particularly, foreign scientists have brought to this Symposium a number of valuable materials related to Hoi An, which are now preserved in foreign countries, such as ancient paintings, relics, materials reflecting trade relations between Hoi An and Japan materials concerning the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) preserved in The Hague now. True, these data are still to be further supplemented, confirmed and exploited, but what has been gathered constitutes a contribution of lasting value to the study and protection of the Hoi An historical site.
4. Many scientific problems have been raised in the reports and during discussions at sub-committees. Regrettably, owing to lack of time, many scientific problems of great interest and significance have not yet been thoroughly discussed as many scientists have wished for. However, the reports and discussions have helped further increase the participants' knowledge of the history, characteristics and many- faceted values of the ancient town of Hoi An. The topographical and ecological characteristics of the Thu Bon estuary area together with their changes over the various periods of history have attracted the interest of many participants and entailed a lot of discussions among them, for they constitute an indispensable element for the study of the birth of Hoi An and its changes throughout history.A period of the Sa Huynh-Champa culture in the history of Hoi An has been affirmed with regard to the position of a Dai Chiem harbor or any port town of the Champa Kingdom before the 15th century.

Many reports have placed Hoi An in the context of the Southeast Asian region, and even of t he East Asian and South Asian regions, together with the changes in trade and navigation relations between the Orient and the world, with a view to studying and explaining the birth, prosperity and decline of the commercial port of Hoi An in its relation- ship with the countries in the region and the world. The structure of the commercial port of Hoi An, the location of the Japanese and Chinese streets in the town, the structure of the inhabitants and the relations between the local population and foreign residents, Hoi An's economic, cultural and social characteristics, are matters often dealt with in many reports. Finally are mentioned the architectural characteristics, the values of the historical site of the ancient town of Hoi An, the orientation for and mode of protecting, utilizing it within the general plan for the development of the town of Hoi An at present and in the future.
5. A few problems remain open for want of data, and new problems have been raised in the process of discussion. All the participants deem it necessary to draw up a programmer for a further stud of Hoi An in its historical depths and also in the width of the relationship between Hoi An and the countries in the region and the world at large. That programmer should be worked out and implemented within the frame- work of the cooperative relationship between Vietnamese and foreign scientists, especially those from countries that once had economic and cultural relations with Hoi An and which are still preserving materials related to Hoi An. As the task of the National Committee for the International Symposium on the Ancient Town of Hoi An comes to an end after this Symposium, a new organization should be set up to take up the programmer of research of research on and protection of Hoi An, to continue to enlist international cooperation for the study and protection of the ancient town. It might be the National Committee for the Preservation of Ancient Town of Hoi An, and if so, the Vietnamese side should come to an early decision and will inform all the participants in this Symposium about it.
6. It would be a shortcoming of we failed to mention another major achievement of this international Symposium, namely the contacts and exchanges of views, in and outside the Symposium between Vietnamese and foreign scientists. This was a golden opportunity for scientists to get one another acquainted with the latest scientific information, to exchange their viewpoints regarding scientific problems of common interest, and to discuss possibilities for cooperation in the specialized and inter-branch fields. An international symposium with the participation of many foreign and Vietnamese scientists like this one, especially on social sciences, is not common currency in Vietnam. It certainly has helped further strengthen the relations of solidarity and cooperation between Vietnamese and foreign scientists.