HÀ NỘI — The decision that regulates the short-term transportation of national treasures for exhibition, research or preservation has been promulgated by the Vietnamese government.

Under the decision, the transport of national treasures abroad must comply with regulations specified in Article 44 of the law of cultural heritage, besides ensuring the security and safety of the objects while being preserved abroad for the short term and on their return to Việt Nam.

In addition, the value of the national treasures must be converted into cash, which serves as the foundation for insurance purchases and for checking exemptions while dealing with customs procedures at the border gates.

The decision is applicable for relevant ministries, departments, national political and social organisations, as well as provincial people’s committees, public and private museums, organisations and individuals that possess or get charge of historical, cultural and natural heritage.

The national treasures are transported abroad in three cases - to serve national-level diplomatic activities of the central party’s general secretary, president, prime minister and the chairman of the national assembly, to serve national-scaled international cooperations to introduce the history, culture, country and the people and to serve international cooperations for researching or preserving the national treasures.

The international partners who receive the national treasures must ensure the legality, proper material facility, scientific and technical capacities of the exhibition, research and preservation of the objects.

The council to determine the money value of the national treasures for insurance purchases was established by the culture, sports and tourism minister. The members of the council comprise the representative of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, who is also chairman of the council, the representative of the Ministry of Finance and representatives of relevant organisations, departments and individuals.

Their conclusion is the foundation for the culture, sports and tourism minister to determine the level of insurance purchase for the national treasures before they are transported abroad. — VNS