Protecting treasures… is a precaution?

VHO - Hue City has requested the Hue Monuments Conservation Center and related units to conduct a comprehensive inspection and review of management and protection work at relics, display sites and preservation of national treasures and valuable artifacts.

Security guards on duty inside the Thai Hoa Palace relic (Hue Imperial City)

In recent days, Thai Hoa Palace (Hue Imperial City) has continued to welcome a large number of tourists after the incident of the national treasure, the Nguyen Dynasty throne, being damaged.

Many visitors expressed regret at not being able to admire the national treasure here, but were still very excited about the restored throne in 2023 that was put on display. In addition, there are also national treasures, a pair of dragon statues from the Thieu Tri period and many precious artifacts from the Nguyen Dynasty.

According to the reporter of Van Hoa , the security and safety work at Thai Hoa Palace has been tightened. One guard is on duty in the inner palace area, monitoring and observing visitors; another guard patrols around, from the East side to the back palace, and the West side of the relic.

At Thai Hoa Palace, we witnessed the guards not behaving tactfully with visitors. A visitor, upon learning that the throne was a restoration, asked the guard if he could sit on it, but the guard named V. had an unpleasant attitude and replied, “Wait until I get fired before you sit on it.” Upon hearing the answer, the visitor shook his head and left.

Protecting relics and heritage is not a simple task, requiring staff to ensure skills in protection and response to situations as well as communication skills with tourists, contributing to introducing and promoting the image of local heritage to domestic and international friends.

Surveying at the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum, the Standing Vice Chairman of the Hue City People's Committee said that the exhibition space is arranged reasonably and harmoniously, but the national treasures and precious artifacts on display are easily "touched" with a reach. The soft dividers are too close and can easily be "crossed over" if visitors deliberately approach, risking affecting the treasures and artifacts. For example, the national treasure Emperor Duy Tan's Throne is displayed here quite loosely.

For this, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center needs to coordinate with the Hue city tourism industry to organize more systematic training in communication and behavior of the monument protection force.

Before the incident, Thai Hoa Palace was equipped with a surveillance camera system, alarm system, etc. However, inside the palace, there were only barriers to separate the passage for visitors, and there was no alarm system when someone approached the national treasure.

Currently, the Hue Monuments Security Force has about 150 people, performing tasks at many different monument locations on a large scale. Mr. Tran Dinh Than, Head of the Security Management Department (Hue Monuments Conservation Center), said: In the Imperial Citadel area, there are 10 points with 24 security guards on duty in a day, changing shifts. Through the review meeting, although the security force handled the situation promptly and reported information quickly, it must be admitted that the initial response was a bit slow.

The Thai Hoa Palace area has two staff on duty each shift, each shift works 24 hours. There are 21 surveillance cameras here. According to Mr. Than, every year, the guards at the relic are trained in security techniques, fire prevention and fighting, and the use of support tools such as electric batons and batons. Previously, the security teams were also equipped with support tools, but they expired and were taken back about 2 months ago.

Mr. Than said that before the incident at Thai Hoa Palace, the Security Management Department had proposed that the leaders of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center re-equip support tools. It is expected that next June, the police will train security guards on how to use support tools; the use of these tools is licensed by the police agency.

Tourists visit and learn about the national treasure, the Minh Mang period stone relief.

On May 26, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Permanent Vice Chairman of Hue City People's Committee and related units inspected the work of protecting relics and displaying national treasures and precious artifacts at the Hue Monuments Complex.

Mr. Binh suggested that the relic management unit review and re-evaluate the assignment and arrangement of appropriate human resources to ensure protection work; at the same time, it is necessary to increase the application of technology to preserve and ensure absolute safety for relics and artifacts.

Surveying at the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum, the Standing Vice Chairman of the Hue City People's Committee said that the exhibition space is arranged reasonably and harmoniously, but the national treasures and precious artifacts on display are easily "touched" with a reach of the hand. The soft dividers are too close and can easily be "crossed over" if visitors deliberately approach, risking affecting the treasures and artifacts.

For example, the national treasure Emperor Duy Tan's Throne (recently recognized by the Prime Minister at the end of 2024) is being displayed here quite loosely. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh suggested that the museum develop a plan to protect the displayed artifacts more scientifically and strictly as well as solutions to prevent unexpected situations, in which it is important to pay attention to applying technology and consider equipping a warning system when someone approaches the treasure or artifact.

The Hue Royal Antiquities Museum is preserving and managing more than 11,000 artifacts, including many national treasures. In the museum's exhibition space, there are currently on display treasures such as the Duy Tan Emperor's Throne, the Minh Mang-era stone relief, and precious artifacts such as the dragon bed, the Khai Dinh-era throne, and palanquins, but there is no strict protection solution.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh also directed the Hue Monuments Conservation Center and related units to not only increase human and material resources but also to train and coach the team tasked with protecting relics and artifacts.

At the same time, strengthen propaganda and mobilization work so that people and the community pay attention to and join hands to preserve and protect the precious assets of the nation that exist in the area. Hue City leaders request to clarify and handle the responsibilities of related individuals and units.

Regarding the Nguyen Dynasty throne that was recently damaged and had its armrest (left side) broken on May 24, many people on social media have commented that this throne has some differences compared to the documentary image of King Bao Dai sitting on it. Some people even expressed doubts about the “originality” and origin of the throne that was recently damaged.

Speaking with Van Hoa , Mr. Ngo Van Minh, Director of the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum, affirmed: The Nguyen Dynasty throne that was recently violated has an original archive and has been recognized as a national treasure.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/bao-ve-bao-vat-la-phong-ngua-tinh-huong-137957.html