Revenue over 4,100 billion VND

On June 26, the Ministry of Finance has just sent a report to the Government leaders on the results of the overall inspection of the management of donations and sponsorships at historical and cultural relics nationwide in 2023.

According to local reports, the country currently has 31,211 historical and cultural relics (31,581 component relics).

Of the total 31,581 component relics, 15,324 relics (49%) have data on revenue and expenditure of donations and sponsorships.

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Quang Ninh province was assigned to pilot the inspection, the revenue in the first 4 months of 2023 was over 67 billion VND (including revenue at Ba Vang Pagoda and some relics), the estimated revenue for the whole year is over 200 billion VND. Photo: Ba Vang Pagoda

The total actual revenue in 2023 is 4,100 billion VND (excluding donations, in-kind sponsorship, construction works; donations, sponsorship for religious activities of religious organizations).

Of which, the revenue from religious relics is 3,062 billion VND (75%). There are 63 relics with revenue of over 5 billion VND, of which 28 relics have revenue of over 10 billion VND. The number of relics with revenue of over 25 billion VND is 7, including: Ba Chua Xu Temple in Chau Doc, An Giang (220 billion VND) ; Bao Ha Temple in Bao Yen, Lao Cai (71 billion); Con Dao Prison Historical Relic Site in Ba Ria-Vung Tau (34 billion); Song Son Temple in Bim Son, Thanh Hoa (28 billion); Hung Temple in Phu Tho (26 billion) and 2 relics in Hanoi: La Khe Communal House (28 billion) and Ngu Nhac Temple in Huong Pagoda (33 billion).

Revenue from religious relics was 1,038 billion VND (25%). There were 15 relics that collected over 5 billion VND, of which only 4 relics collected over 10 billion VND, including: Tranh Pagoda in Ninh Giang District, Hai Duong Province 10.2 billion; Tam Xa Pagoda in Dong Anh, Hanoi over 10 billion; Ong Pagoda in Bien Hoa, Dong Nai 14.2 billion; Hoa Hao Buddhist Representative Board in Ca Mau Province 14.4 billion.

The report shows that 7 provinces and cities have revenue of over 200 billion VND, including: Hanoi (672 billion), Hai Duong (278 billion), An Giang (277 billion), Bac Ninh (269 billion), Hung Yen (242 billion), Nam Dinh (215 billion).

Quang Ninh province was assigned to pilot the inspection, the revenue in the first 4 months of 2023 was over 67 billion VND (including revenue at Ba Vang Pagoda and some relics), estimated revenue for the whole year is over 200 billion VND.

There are 9 provinces and cities with revenue from over 100 billion VND to under 200 billion VND, including: Hai Phong (183 billion), Thai Binh (169 billion), Vinh Phuc (127 billion), Bac Giang (122 billion), Phu Tho (119 billion), Lao Cai (116 billion), Nghe An (115 billion), Ninh Binh (110 billion), Thanh Hoa (105 billion).

Some relics give money to individuals to keep.

According to the report, the total amount of charity money spent in 2023 is 3,612 billion VND (some localities have higher expenditures than revenues due to using the balance carried over from 2022).

Of which, management expenses are 445 billion VND (12%); festival expenses are 692 billion VND (19%); expenses for restoration and embellishment of relics are 1,643 billion VND (46%); expenses for propaganda, ensuring security and order, fire prevention and fighting, environmental protection, renovation, upgrading, and construction of new auxiliary works at relics are 542 billion VND (15%).

Charity and humanitarian activities cost 290 billion VND (8%), including: support for students in difficult circumstances 47 billion VND; support for people affected by natural disasters and fires 8 billion VND; support for building houses for poor households 27 billion VND; support for building rural roads 43 billion VND; other support 165 billion VND.

The remaining amount by the end of 2023 will be transferred to 2024 to continue to be used for protecting and promoting the value of relics and organizing festivals.

According to the Ministry of Finance's assessment, in the context of difficult state budget balance and modest annual budget expenditures for the cultural sector, donations and sponsorships at historical and cultural relics are very important financial sources, which have been actively contributing to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage values ​​in particular, and to the socio-economic development of the country in general.

Most local reports state that the reported data on the collection and expenditure of donations and sponsorships at relics, including those ranked as special national relics, only partially reflect and are not complete. Religious relics basically have activities of collecting and spending donations and sponsorships, but about 31%, equivalent to 1,771 relics, do not report. Among these, many communally owned pagodas that have been included in the inventory list by the provincial People's Committee to serve the work of preserving, restoring and promoting the value of the relics, do not report, with the reason being that the locality included the pagoda in the inventory list without the opinion of the pagoda.

In addition, according to the Ministry of Finance, at relics such as temples and pagodas, there are plates and trays placed on the altars, causing visitors to place many types of money haphazardly, not only losing the solemnity and purity of the place of worship but also causing greed in others. According to the provisions of Circular No. 04/2023/TT-BTC, the above amounts of money are collected for counting and shared use for the protection and promotion of the value of relics and festivals; including remuneration for those who care for and protect the relics and expenses for buying incense, flowers, offerings, and incense sticks at the relics. However, whether the implementation at relics that have not installed cameras ensures transparency or not depends entirely on the self-awareness of the relic representatives.

The management of donations and sponsorships at many relics is also assessed by the Ministry of Finance as "not strict, with potential risks, leading to loss and theft". Some relics entrust money to individuals to keep, put it in their name to save, or lend it to individuals, and there have been cases of people being scammed out of billions of dong.

An employee who "embezzled" donation money from the altar at the Hoang Muoi Temple in Nghe An was just administratively fined 2.5 million VND by the police.