The National Assembly agrees on new regulations on purchasing and bringing antiques and treasures to Vietnam.

The National Assembly agreed to regulate the Cultural Heritage Conservation Fund, which can purchase and bring relics, antiques, national treasures, documentary heritage, and rare documents on intangible cultural heritage of Vietnamese origin from abroad back to the country.

This content is reflected in the Law on Cultural Heritage which was just passed by the National Assembly on the afternoon of November 23 at the 8th Session, with 413/422 delegates participating in the vote in favor (accounting for 86.22% of the total number of delegates). Chairman of the Committee on Culture and Education Nguyen Dac Vinh said that through discussion, some opinions agreed to establish a Cultural Heritage Conservation Fund to mobilize resources to support a number of activities to protect and promote the value of cultural heritage. Besides, there were opinions suggesting to consider not establishing this fund.

Chairman of the Committee on Culture and Education Nguyen Dac Vinh

Explaining the delegates’ opinions, the National Assembly Standing Committee said that cultural heritage is a valuable asset of the ethnic community. In recent years, the State has paid attention, allocated budget, and mobilized resources to protect and promote the value of cultural heritage, however, the results are still limited and have not met the requirements.

On the basis of politics, law and practice, the National Assembly Standing Committee agreed with the Government's proposal on the establishment of a Cultural Heritage Conservation Fund and was agreed by the majority of National Assembly deputies. The establishment of a Cultural Heritage Conservation Fund is necessary, creating a mechanism to mobilize additional social resources to support a number of truly necessary and specific activities in cultural heritage conservation but the state budget cannot meet, such as: protecting intangible cultural heritage at risk of being lost or forgotten; preserving, renovating, restoring, protecting and promoting the value of relics; purchasing and bringing relics, antiques, national treasures, documentary heritage, rare documents on intangible cultural heritage of Vietnamese origin from abroad to the country... The Fund's financial resources are formed on the basis of aid, sponsorship, support, donations from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals and other legal financial sources; The state budget does not support funding for the Fund's activities. To ensure compliance with the conditions of provinces and centrally-run cities, the National Assembly Standing Committee has directed the review, adjustment and completion of the Fund's funding support for only a number of key and focal activities; at the same time, it has adjusted and supplemented the regulation that the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall, based on the actual situation of requirements, the ability to mobilize resources, efficiency and feasibility, consider and decide whether or not to establish this fund in the locality.

The National Assembly voted to pass the Law on Cultural Heritage at the 8th Session.

The draft discussion approved by the National Assembly specifically stipulates Article 89 on the Cultural Heritage Conservation Fund. Accordingly, this is a state financial fund outside the budget, established and operating in accordance with the provisions of law to support funding for activities to protect and promote the value of cultural heritage that has not been invested in, supported or invested in sufficiently by the state budget. Specifically, the fund supports funding to protect intangible cultural heritage at risk of fading or being lost; carry out projects and items to preserve, repair, restore, protect and promote the value of relics; In addition, it also purchases and brings relics, antiques, national treasures, rare documentary heritage about intangible cultural heritage of Vietnamese origin from abroad to the country. In addition, it is possible to purchase relics, antiques, national treasures, valuable documentary heritage of Vietnam to supplement the collections of museums and relics. The Law on Cultural Heritage takes effect from July 1, 2025. Source: https://vov.vn/chinh-tri/quoc-hoi-dong-tinh-quy-dinh-moi-ve-mua-dua-co-vat-va-bao-vat-ve-viet-nam-post1137542.vov