Preserving and promoting the value of antiquities: What needs to be done (Part 2) - Warning about the damage to antiquities and national treasures

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - Recently, a number of cases of damage to antiquities and national treasures have occurred in a number of localities in the country, including Thanh Hoa. The brazen acts of digging, stealing, and destroying heritage have been sounding the alarm bell for the government, cultural management agencies, functional forces as well as the community.

The artifacts are displayed and preserved at the Artifacts Exhibition and Research Room, managed by Mr. Nguyen Kim Cuong.

One of the incidents that has recently attracted public attention in the province is the desecration of the tomb of King Le Tuc Tong at the Lam Kinh National Special Historical Site. This tomb is located in isolation on a hillside in Kien Tho commune, about 4km from the center of the Lam Kinh Historical Site. In early May 2025, authorities discovered evidence of illegal excavation at the tomb. According to a report from the Thanh Hoa Center for Historical Research and Cultural Heritage Preservation, the excavated hole measured 90cm x 52cm, was about 1.6m deep, and the tombstone was broken. Using professional methods, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Police, in coordination with the Quang Ninh Provincial Police, arrested two Chinese nationals while they were attempting to flee through Mong Cai. The seized evidence included metal detectors and digging tools. The suspects confessed to coming to Vietnam with the purpose of searching for artifacts in ancient royal tombs and the tombs of wealthy people in order to steal the valuables buried with them. This is not just a simple act of vandalism, but also has the potential to be an organized, cross-border operation.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Mai Van Tung, Head of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Hong Duc University, the encroachment and damage to the national treasures of the Nguyen Dynasty (Hue) and the tomb of King Le Tuc Tong at Lam Kinh in 2025 is not only an act of violating historical relics but also a consequence of insufficient investment in heritage education , a lack of specialized human resources, and a lack of coordinated protection efforts among relevant parties and the cultural sector.

“Damaging cultural heritage, including ancient artifacts and national treasures, is tantamount to damaging the very soul of the nation. Therefore, we cannot simply react after each incident and then quietly forget about it. It is crucial to recognize that protecting cultural heritage is not solely the responsibility of the cultural sector or relevant authorities; the role of education is also very significant. To foster a deep-rooted and sustainable sense of national cultural preservation, education must begin first and foremost. This includes not only educating about the value of heritage but also clarifying the roles and responsibilities of citizens,” said Associate Professor Dr. Mai Van Tung.

Despite numerous regulations on the protection of cultural heritage, including ancient artifacts and national treasures, the reality shows that protection efforts still face many shortcomings due to a lack of qualified specialized personnel and, especially, insufficient community oversight. Not only the incident at Lam Kinh, but many valuable artifacts and relics at historical sites, temples, and pagodas in Thanh Hoa province are also at risk of being lost. In some localities within the province, there have been instances where people discovered ancient artifacts but did not know how to preserve them or secretly sold them. In some cases, criminals even impersonated archaeologists, exploiting people's trust to illegally excavate artifacts.

Mr. Nguyen Kim Cuong, a member of the Thanh Hoa Cultural Heritage and Antiquities Association, shared: “Currently, the ‘bleeding’ of antiquities out of the country is truly alarming. Some national treasures, if not displayed and protected according to standards, are very easily damaged or may be stolen. Meanwhile, the awareness of heritage protection among a segment of the population is still limited, even indifferent, treating heritage as unrelated property. Therefore, decisive action from the government is necessary, but it will not be enough without the supervisory and collaborative role from the local community.”

From a broader perspective, the damage to ancient artifacts and treasures is not just a matter of cultural management, but also reflects society's awareness and attitude towards the past and national identity. When heritage is violated, it is not only a material loss, but also a breakdown in the connection between generations, a risk of blurring historical milestones, and an emptiness of the region's cultural identity. Thanh Hoa, with its rich cultural heritage and "land of outstanding people and sacred places," holds many national artifacts and treasures, but if not strictly protected, these heritages could easily disappear in silence.

The above reality shows that it is time for a comprehensive, long-term, and highly enforceable heritage preservation strategy. It's not just a matter for the cultural sector or local authorities; preserving ancient artifacts and treasures must become a shared awareness among every citizen.

“Every artifact, whether small or large, is a piece of history. Every relic, however modest, is a witness to the nation's memory. If we do not protect, respect, and promote these values, we will gradually lose our cultural pillars in our development journey. The desecration of King Le Tuc Tong's tomb is a stern wake-up call, demanding concrete and decisive action from all sides. Let's not allow ancient artifacts and national treasures to exist only in archives or reconstructed sketches. Let heritage be protected with the shared pride and responsibility of the entire society,” Associate Professor Dr. Mai Van Tung emphasized.

Text and photos: Hoai Anh

Final article: "Awakening" ancient artifacts

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/bao-ton-phat-huy-gia-tri-co-vat-viec-can-lam-bai-2-canh-bao-viec-xam-hai-co-vat-bao-vat-quoc-gia-260923.htm