Strengthening the management of donations and sponsorships at historical and cultural relics

Support from organizations and individuals contributes to the restoration and embellishment of the relic. In the photo: People visit Tay Phuong Pagoda.

Surprisingly, in 2023 alone, the actual amount collected amounted to VND 4,100 billion in cash, not to mention donations, in-kind sponsorship, construction works; donations, sponsorship for religious activities of religious organizations.

According to the Ministry of Finance , localities have issued decisions or comprehensive inspection plans to evaluate the management of donations and sponsorships at historical and cultural relics. Through inspections, local authorities will manage donations and sponsorships in a transparent and clear manner, creating trust and bringing common benefits to the community, contributing to the development of local culture and socio-economy.

Total revenue 4,100 billion VND

According to local reports, the country currently has 31,211 historical-cultural relics (including 31,581 component relics), including 206 special national relics, 3,875 national relics, 10,963 provincial relics and 16,167 relics included in the local relic inventory. This is the first time that the authorities have conducted a general inspection of historical-cultural relics classified according to the provisions of the Law on Cultural Heritage on a national scale.

The inspection teams inspect the receipt, management and use of donations and sponsorships for relics and festival activities; review the opening of accounts and books to record the receipt and disbursement of donations and sponsorships, the content of the use of donations and sponsorships, and supervise the receipt, counting and use of donations and sponsorships at the relics. Previously, organizations and individuals assigned to manage relics were asked to self-report the receipt and disbursement of donations and sponsorships at the relics. On that basis, the inspection team conducted inspections at each relic on the list.

At the above-mentioned relics, there are basically representatives or management boards to be legally responsible for activities at the relics, but previously, there were almost no legal documents regulating the management of donation money nationwide, only a few localities issued provincial-level documents regulating the relics in the area.

Most localities do not have documents regulating this activity; management is mainly based on custom, tradition and the specific characteristics of each relic site. Starting from 2023, the Ministry of Finance will guide the management and financial collection and expenditure for festival organization and donation money, sponsorship for relics and festival activities. Localities have developed and issued documents regulating the management of donation money and sponsorship, ensuring that it is consistent with the reality of each relic site and local customs and practices.

Of the total 31,581 component relics, 15,324 relics (49%) have data on revenue and expenditure of donations and sponsorships. Religious establishments have a total of 5,683 relics, of which 3,912 relics (69%) have data on revenue and expenditure of donations and sponsorships, the remaining relics do not report.

Of the other 25,898 relics, 11,412 relics (44%) have revenue and expenditure data. The rest are mainly private relics, clan churches that have not reported, and special relics without donations or sponsorship, including: Relics that are locations marking events, historical landmarks, old streets, ancient houses, writings, archaeological sites, and caves. Relics in Dak Nong province do not have revenue or expenditure from donations or sponsorship.

The total amount of money collected in 2023 is 4,100 billion VND (excluding donations, sponsorship in kind, construction works; donations, sponsorship for religious activities of religious organizations), mainly at relics that are religious establishments with 3,062 billion VND (75%). There are 63 relics collecting over 5 billion VND, of which 28 relics collect over 10 billion VND, 7 relics collect over 25 billion VND.

There are 7 localities with revenue of over 200 billion VND; 9 provinces and cities with revenue of over 100 billion VND. Notably, the total expenditure in 2023 is 3,612 billion VND, mainly for relic restoration and embellishment activities with 1,643 billion VND (46%). The amount of donations spent on charity and humanitarian activities is 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.

Ensure publicity and transparency

Commenting on this result, the Ministry of Finance said that in the context of difficult state budget balance and modest annual budget expenditure 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.

Many construction works and locations marking important events and historical milestones of the nation or associated with national heroes and famous people who have had a great influence on the history of the nation have been preserved and promoted, such as Hung Temple in Phu Tho; Bach Dang Giang relic in Hai Phong; Dong Loc T-junction relic site in Ha Tinh; Con Dao Prison historical relic site in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, etc.

Many traditional festivals are held at the relics with folk rituals representing historical, cultural and social ethical values to arouse patriotism and national pride, which are honored and inherited, such as: Hung King's Commemoration Festival, Yen Tu Festival, and Ba Chua Xu Festival.

The revenue from donations and sponsorships at relics, in addition to being used for the restoration and embellishment of relics and the organization of festivals, also contributes positively to community activities. The restoration and embellishment of relics and the organization of festivals have created attraction for tourists, are resources for the formation of tourist destinations, contribute to creating jobs, increasing income for the community, and are also conditions for collecting entrance fees according to the provisions of the Law on Cultural Heritage.

In 2023, 18 localities collected entrance fees at 37 relics, with a total fee collection of 1,015 billion VND. From this revenue, 499 billion VND was allocated for fee collection costs, the remaining 516 billion VND was paid to the local budget, used for infrastructure investment and restoration of relics in the area. The management of donations and sponsorships at relics has been and is having positive changes towards openness and transparency.

However, 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 reflects and is incomplete. Religious relics basically have activities of collecting and spending donations and sponsorships, but about 31%, or 1,771 relics, do not report.

The management of donation money and sponsorship at many relics is not strict, posing risks of loss and theft when some relics entrust money to individuals to keep, save, or lend to individuals. There have been cases of people being scammed out of billions of dong. In addition to the management of donation money, the burning of large quantities of votive paper causes waste, environmental pollution, and the risk of fire and explosion at relics that are religious establishments.

The first comprehensive inspection of the management of donations and sponsorships at historical and cultural relics nationwide, conducted after the Lunar New Year in 2024 and during the festival season, has helped localities have a practical basis for a comprehensive assessment of this activity. With the achieved results and the limitations and difficulties in the management of donations and sponsorships at relics, it can be seen that donations and sponsorships at historical and cultural relics are closely associated with the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people, and are a fine traditional cultural feature of the Vietnamese people.

Although there are still many unreported relics and incomplete reported data, with a total revenue of VND 4,100 billion in 2023 (excluding donations and sponsorship for religious activities of religious organizations), it shows that people have a great need to contribute to the restoration and embellishment of relics and the organization of festivals.

The promulgation of the first legal document regulating the management, collection and expenditure of donations and sponsorship for relics and festival activities nationwide has received consensus and support from the people and social organizations.

The Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has issued a document guiding the application, in which it requests monks, nuns, Buddhists, affiliated religious organizations, abbots of pagodas and monasteries of the Sangha to strictly implement it. Donating and sponsoring the restoration and embellishment of relics and festival activities is a meaningful cultural feature, so the receipt and use of that money must fully record the revenues and expenditures to ensure publicity and transparency.

In addition, practicing thrift and combating waste in the use of donations and sponsorships is considered a duty and a behavioral culture of representatives or relic management boards in belief and religious activities to contribute to improving the efficiency of using social resources for the country's cultural development.

Source