The National Assembly has officially passed amendments to the Cultural Heritage Law, introducing the establishment of the Cultural Heritage Conservation Fund. 

This fund aims to mobilize additional social resources to support preservation efforts that are critical yet beyond the reach of state budgets. The law will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Presenting the explanatory report, Nguyen Dac Vinh, Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture and Education, highlighted broad agreement on the need for a Heritage Conservation Fund to mobilize resources for safeguarding and enhancing the value of cultural heritage.

Some opinions, however, suggested caution in establishing the fund or proposed allowing religious organizations to create their own heritage funds.

The Standing Committee of the National Assembly emphasized that cultural heritage represents a precious asset of the Vietnamese people. While the state has allocated budgets and sought external resources for preservation, results have fallen short of expectations.

Drawing from political, legal, and practical considerations, the Standing Committee endorsed the government’s proposal to establish the Heritage Conservation Fund, a decision supported by the majority of delegates.

The Heritage Conservation Fund is deemed essential for creating a mechanism to attract additional social resources to support specialized preservation activities. These include efforts that are vital yet cannot be fully covered by state budgets.

The fund’s financial resources will come from:

Donations, sponsorships, and support from domestic and international organizations and individuals.
Other lawful financial sources.
The state budget will not contribute to the fund’s activities.

To ensure feasibility across different provinces and municipalities, the NA Standing Committee adjusted the provisions, allowing the fund to focus on priority areas.

Provincial People's Committee Chairpersons will decide whether to establish local Heritage Conservation Funds based on resource availability and local needs.

Quang Phong