Dau Pagoda is a famous pagoda in Hanoi with a history of over 2,000 years. (Photo: HNM)
The official dispatch clearly states that, in recent times, mass media outlets have reported and reflected the situation of numerous historical relics and national heritage sites being infringed upon. Pursuant to the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh in Official Dispatch No. 4729/VPCP-KGVX dated May 28, 2025 issued by the Government Office, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) requests that the People’s Committees of centrally run provinces and cities instruct competent authorities and local administrations to strictly comply with the provisions of the Law on Cultural Heritage and international treaties under UNESCO Conventions to which Viet Nam is a signatory, concerning the protection of cultural and natural heritage of the world.
Authorities are required to strictly implement the Law on Cultural Heritage and its guiding documents; Directive No. 274/CT-BVHTTDL dated September 23, 2022 of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism on strengthening state management over certain cultural and artistic activities, festivals, and the protection and promotion of cultural heritage values, as well as the restoration and development of tourism; together with Official Dispatch No. 3656/BVHTTDL-DSVH dated August 27, 2024 and Official Dispatch No. 1218/BVHTTDL-DSVH dated March 25, 2025 on enhancing the management of activities related to the protection, preservation, restoration, and promotion of the value of historical and cultural relics and scenic landscapes.
The People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities are requested to direct relevant agencies to review all inventoried and classified relics within their localities to ensure that each site has an organization or a person directly responsible for its management, protection, and supervision. The management structure must operate effectively to ensure proper protection of relics, prevent situations in which relics lack clear custodians, or delayed responses to incidents of infringement. For cases beyond the local authority, reports must be promptly submitted to the provincial People’s Committee for consideration and action.
Local authorities are also requested to review, supplement, and complete the scientific dossiers of relics, and issue regulations on the management, protection, and promotion of relics and scenic landscapes under their jurisdiction. These regulations should specify the protection requirements for relic structures, artifacts, and cultural landscapes, and clearly assign the responsibilities of organizations and individuals involved in relic protection.
Relevant organizations and individuals must conduct reviews and draw lessons, clarifying accountability for violations to prevent similar cases of heritage infringement. Provinces and cities should also strengthen management, ensure the security and safety of relics and related artifacts, and be proactive in formulating preventive and responsive measures to detect and address acts of encroachment and vandalism promptly. Additionally, efforts should be made to promote public education and awareness-raising campaigns to enhance the community’s consciousness about relic protection.
The Law on Cultural Heritage 2024, passed by the 15th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam at its 8th session on November 23, 2024, will take effect on July 1, 2025. Under Clause 4, Article 90 on the responsibilities of provincial People’s Committees for state management of cultural heritage, the MOCST urges localities to prepare adequate resources (financial, human, and database-related) to ensure effective state management in line with decentralization and delegation of authority. Localities are encouraged to proactively develop plans for timely, consistent, and effective implementation of the Law on Cultural Heritage, contributing to the protection and promotion of cultural heritage in general and relics in particular.
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