Nguyen Dynasty’s antiques must return to Hue

The State should have policies to send antiquities of the Nguyen Dynasty that are being held by the Vietnam National History Museum and the HCM City National History Museum back to the ancient capital city of Hue.

VietNamNet Bridge - The State should have policies to send antiquities of the Nguyen Dynasty that are being held by the Vietnam National History Museum and the HCM City National History Museum back to the ancient capital city of Hue because Hue is the owner of these artifacts, said Dr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Centre for Conservation of Hue Monuments.

However, Hue needs to prove its position and its ability to preserve and honor the value of the antiques if they are returned to the city. The Centre for Conservation of Hue Monuments had received some donated artifacts from France and hundreds of other artifacts donated by local sources.

In particular, in June 2014 the Centre participated in antiqueauctions in France and successfully brought back the rickshaw of Queen Tu Minh back to Hue. These artifacts are currently on display at the Museum of Hue Royal Antiquities and relic sites in Hue.

Mr. Nguyen Van Me, Chairman of Thua Thien Hue Province Study Encouragement Association, former Chairman of Thua Thien Hue Province, said that an urgent action that Hue must do immediately is promoting the campaign "repatriating artifacts". Accordingly, Hue authorities would call for overseas Vietnamese to send antiques back home in appropriate ways.

Me said that the campaign should be carried out in sync with many different solutions, from the encouragement of voluntary donations from patriotism overseas Vietnamese to overseas auctions, to purchase of antiques through diplomatic channels, to diplomatic efforts to take back antiques.

Ms. Huynh Thi Anh Van, Director of the Museum of Hue Royal Antiquities, said the "repatriation" of Hue antiques was mainly due to the generosity of the international community and from many sides, especially the owners of antiques and the people who get the information.

Researcher Phan Thuan An suggested that Hanoi and Hue join hands to make the file on Nguyen Dynasty antiques to submit to UNESCO for recognition as the World Cultural Heritage.

While waiting for the return of Nguyen Dynasty antiques to Hue, Hue needs to find solutions to attract tourists to see Hue antiques.

Ms. Anh Van, director of the Museum of Hue Royal Antiquities, said the museum would strengthen antique displays in depth with more information to help visitors understand the cultural and historical value of the antiquities. The museum will also introduce 3D video clips featuring antiques.

Researcher Nguyen Xuan Hoa said that it was a plausible idea to restore the 2-story building of the Home Affairs Bureau in the Hue Royal Citadel to display Nguyen Dynasty antiques previously preserved by this bureau.

Hoa proposed to launch a project to collect, arrange and systematize antiques based on the criteria applied in the reign of Emperors Minh Mang, Thieu Tri and Tu Duc and to collect images and restore the tools used to make, measure and classify items used under the Nguyen Dynasty.

Dr. Phan Thanh Hai said that Hue should extend the exhibition space in the future as well as create linkages between public and private museums and individual collectors in order to enrich the cultural treasure of Hue.

During Hue Festival 2013, the first private museum was inaugurated by researcher Tran Dinh Son at No. 114 Mai Thuc Loan Street in Hue city, introducing hundreds of ancient artifacts of the Nguyen Dynasty.

The house was the home of Son’s grandfather, Mr. Tran Dinh Ba, a minister of the Nguyen Dynasty.

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