Vietnam Rushes to Finalize Plan for Repatriating National Treasures Abroad

Vietnam is urgently working to finalize a national project aimed at repatriating high-value artworks and cultural heritage that have been dispersed abroad. At a meeting held in Hanoi on September 10, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism discussed the establishment of a repatriation mechanism through legal reforms and international negotiations. Vice Minister Hoang Dao Cuong emphasized that this is a necessary and urgent task to systematically identify and catalogue precious Vietnamese artifacts and antiquities located overseas, and to implement appropriate measures for their return to Vietnam. He noted that many valuable antiquities have been repatriated in the past, with private collectors also actively returning Vietnamese artifacts through auctions. These initial successes demonstrate the practical significance of cultural asset repatriation and highlight the need for a long-term, unified mechanism and policy that aligns with practical conditions and international law. During the meeting, members of the drafting committee focused on mechanisms, policies, resources, finances, and strengthening inter-sectoral coordination to facilitate the repatriation of Vietnamese artistic works, cultural heritage, and rare antiquities currently held abroad. To complete the project before submission to the Government, Vice Minister Hoang Dao Cuong instructed the drafting committee to thoroughly review the entire draft based on the feedback received and to fully incorporate all suggestions. Ms. Le Thi Thu Hien, Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage, affirmed that the committee would finalize the project after incorporating the opinions shared. This initiative is part of Vietnam's national goal to protect its rich cultural heritage and pass it on to future generations. Under its one-party system, Vietnam places significant national importance on the protection and management of cultural heritage, promoting such repatriation and conservation efforts alongside domestic and international promotional activities. For Vietnam, which continues to experience economic growth, the recovery of its cultural heritage is also seen as a means to strengthen national identity.