NOT FOR SALE: Đại Nam (Great South) jade seal is a national treasure that cannot be traded, according to a draft amendment to the Cultural Heritage Law.  Photo bvhttdl.gov.vn

HÀ NỘI  The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has proposed a draft amendment to the Cultural Heritage Law to prohibit national treasures trading and export of relics and antiquities.  

The culture ministry said the draft amendment stipulates that relics and antiquities under public or private ownership can be transferred through civilian sales, exchange, donation, inheritance and business within the country according to legal provisions.

National treasures which are under public or private ownership can only be transferred, exchanged, donated or inherited within the country, according to the draft.

Thus, the added regulation stipulates a ban on international trading of national treasures and export of relics and antiquities, ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Investment Law and the Enterprise Law.

Hoàng Hà bronze drum is a national treasure.

The amendment aims to encourage the trading of relics, antiquities and national treasures inside the country to increase the cultural heritage value.

The two prohibitions are included in the draft amendment after a process of researching, developing, and collecting opinions on law amendment and supplement.

The proposed ban on the international trading of national treasures has received the support of many experts, collectors and owners of multiple private museums keeping national treasures.

Meanwhile, the regulation on banning export of relics and antiquities ensures consistency with the provisions in the Civil Code and with international conventions on cultural heritage to which Việt Nam is a member. It helps prevent the risk of stealing and illegal excavation of relics and antiquities, as well as loss of the nation's cultural heritage treasures abroad.

According to the culture ministry, the draft amendment to the Cultural Heritage Law was designed to continuously, promptly and fully institutionalise the State's policies on cultural heritage.

The Cultural Heritage Law was passed by the National Assembly on June 6, 2001, marking an important development in the cause of preserving the national cultural heritages.  VNS