Previously, Lao Dong Newspaper had a series of articles reflecting on the conservation of national treasures across the country. The article reflects the current situation, acknowledging experts' opinions on the conservation of national treasures that need to strictly comply with environmental standards, temperature, humidity and security. In particular, the series of articles highlights the coordination between the State and the private sector, which is considered necessary to protect and promote the value of cultural heritage in a sustainable way.
Strengthening management, perfecting heritage conservation and protection plans
In Official Dispatch No. 5101/VPCP-KGVX dated June 10, 2025, Central Party Committee member and Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh requested the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) to preside over and coordinate with relevant ministries, agencies and localities to review and evaluate the overall work of displaying, preserving, protecting and ensuring the security and safety of national treasures nationwide.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is assigned to promptly guide, inspect and inspect the work of preserving, restoring and embellishing relics and heritages to ensure effective management, protection and promotion of the value of heritages and relics; report to competent authorities on issues beyond their authority before June 30, 2025.
Responding to Lao Dong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong said that on June 9, 2025, the Ministry issued an official dispatch requesting localities to strengthen management, protection and promotion of the value of relics and scenic spots. The inventory and review of treasures is part of the task of localities that must report to the Ministry and the Government before June 30. After receiving the report, the Ministry will evaluate and guide localities to complete appropriate management and protection plans.
Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Son - full-time member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society, commented: "The request of Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh on reviewing and evaluating the overall exhibition and conservation of national treasures is an extremely necessary and timely step".
According to Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Son, first of all, it is necessary to create a panoramic, complete and accurate picture of the quantity, types, current status and storage of national treasures across the country. In other words, there needs to be a national database that is digitized, connected and regularly updated on national treasures, managed by a unit with sufficient professional capacity and legal authority.
Second, it is necessary to specifically assess the conservation conditions of each treasure: Is the storage site guaranteed in terms of temperature, humidity, light, security and fire safety? The personnel in charge of the preservation have been properly trained or not; how to handle incidents when they occur...
Third, it is necessary to review current legal regulations and related policy systems to detect gaps, overlaps or inadequacies, thereby making recommendations for timely amendments and supplements.
Mr. Bui Hoai Son emphasized that it is necessary to have a periodic inventory with the participation of many parties, including experts, local authorities and community representatives, to ensure objectivity, transparency and enhance social responsibility in preserving the sacred values of the nation.
The Law on Heritage removes inadequacies in management, conservation and promotion of heritage and relic values
In the coming time, strengthening the management role in the locality, based on new regulations of the Heritage Law, is identified as a practical solution in the work of preserving and protecting cultural heritage.
Current regulations, in addition to the regulations on decentralization stipulated in the Law on Organization of Local Government and the Law on Organization of Government, also have provisions in specialized laws (for each field).
According to Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong, the authorities are organizing the implementation according to the provisions of the Law on Cultural Heritage 2001 (amended and supplemented with a number of articles in 2009) and documents detailing this Law.
However, the system of legal documents on cultural heritage before the Law on Cultural Heritage 2024 (Law No. 45/2024/QH15, effective from July 1, 2025) does not clearly stipulate the responsibility for State management of localities in the management, protection and promotion of cultural heritage values in localities, does not stipulate the management responsibility of provincial People's Committees and local authorities at all levels in implementing the Law on Cultural Heritage.
Through the process of law enforcement and summarizing practices, the basic decentralization shortcomings have been compiled, analyzed and clarified by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with ministries, departments, branches and localities, and proposed a comprehensive solution in the Project to build the Law on Cultural Heritage (amended) and have been officially approved by the National Assembly (Law: 45/2024/QH15).
The specific determination of the responsibility for State management of cultural heritage between ministries, departments, branches and local authorities at all levels also has shortcomings in the mechanism for decentralization of cultural heritage management.
In fact, decentralization and delegation of authority to localities have been promoted, but the preservation of Vietnamese cultural heritage is the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the whole society, so it is necessary to promote a good coordination and professional consultation mechanism..., Mr. Hoang Dao Cuong expressed.
In addition, the 2024 Cultural Heritage Law has provided a specific mechanism to encourage and attract the extensive participation of people, social organizations and the private sector in activities to protect and promote heritage values. In particular, encourage and create conditions, propose preferential tax policies, preferential loans according to the provisions of law for organizations and individuals participating in activities to protect and promote the value of cultural heritage. At the same time, establish a mechanism for ministries, departments, branches and localities to establish a Cultural Heritage Conservation Fund to share the "burden" of the State budget in conservation activities.
Official dispatch No. 2587/BVHTTDL-DSVH sent to the People's Committees of provinces/cities under the Central Government on strengthening management, protection, and promotion of the value of historical - cultural relics and scenic spots, clearly stated that recently, the mass media reported on the situation of many historical relics and national heritages being attacked.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism requests the People's Committees of provinces/cities under the Central Government to direct competent authorities and local authorities to comply with the provisions of the law on cultural heritage and international treaties in the UNESCO Conventions that Vietnam has signed regarding world cultural and natural heritage.
Protecting National Treasures in the Community
According to Lao Dong at the National Historical Site - Nhat Tao Communal House (Dong Ngac Ward, Bac Tu Liem District, Hanoi), where there is a national treasure Nhat Tao bell, a copy of the original is on display at about 95%.
Mr. Nguyen Van Bay - Head of the National Historical Relic Committee - Nhat Tao Communal House said that the bell recognized as a National Treasure is being kept and preserved in a secret place, only the Executive Committee of Nhat Tao Communal House Relic Committee is aware.
The original Nhat Tao bell was only issued on 3 major holidays, including the village festival (the second lunar month), the New Year's Day (the seventh lunar month) and when the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism inspected (1-2 times/year). Every time the original bell is brought publicly, it must go through many procedures, all the steps to ensure absolute safety for the museum, Mr. Bay informed.
In addition to Nhat Tao bell, Nhat Tao communal house also preserves some cultural heritages. To ensure safety, the management board has installed a large number of cameras in and outside the communal house, and has security guards on duty 24/7.
At Quan Thanh Temple, where the National Treasure is kept, the 4-ton bronze statue of Huyen Thien Tran Vu, 4 security cameras were installed to continuously monitor the main hall.
Mr. Bui Hong Son - Deputy Management Board and Head of Quan Thanh Temple (Ba Dinh District, Hanoi) - said that the worship area of Huyen Thien Tran Vu statue is separated by altars and surrounding worship tables.
The management board arranged staff to be on duty to monitor and instruct people to place money in the right place and remind them not to rub their hands on the statue. On the first day of the lunar month, the Management Board will conduct an altar sack and clean the bronze statue.
