Support policy for relic caretakers

The work of caring for and protecting historical and cultural relics and works commemorating martyrs in the province over the years has had the silent but very important contributions of those who directly look after the relics.

Members of the Hung Long Communal House Management Board (in Chon Thanh ward, Dong Nai province) visited and learned about the management of relics at Nguyen Huu Canh Temple and Tomb. Photo: My Ny

Recognizing this special role, the Provincial People's Council recently passed a resolution regulating support policies for this force. The new policy demonstrates the concern of the Party Committee, the government and the people of the province for those who preserve heritage, helping them feel secure in their work.

Recognizing the contributions of the site caretaker

Dong Nai currently has 120 relics ranked as special national, national and provincial relics, along with 155 works honoring martyrs and 1 cemetery for officials and meritorious people. Most of the relics are voluntarily looked after and maintained by local people or the relics' worship committees, contributing to the preservation, promotion, dissemination and dissemination of heritage values.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Cang, Head of the Board of Trustees of the Nguyen Huu Canh Temple and Tomb (in Tran Bien Ward, Dong Nai Province) is one of the people who have been involved in this work for many years. Despite his old age, he still regularly "attends" the relic, cleaning, burning incense and guiding visitors to offer incense. For Mr. Cang, taking care of the relic is like a part of his flesh and blood, a responsibility passed down from generation to generation.

“For the past decades, I have considered the preservation and care of the relics as my own work, as a way of expressing gratitude to Mr. Nguyen Huu Canh. Although there are no policies or support, I and the members of the Board of Trustees have always worked wholeheartedly. Now that we have the State's attention through support policies, we are very happy and feel even more appreciated,” Mr. Cang emotionally shared.

Hung Long Communal House (in Chon Thanh Ward, Dong Nai Province) was ranked and recognized as a provincial-level historical and cultural relic by the People's Committee of the former Binh Phuoc Province in 2004. For many years, this place has not only been a place for religious and cultural activities of local people but also a "common house" preserving traditional values, demonstrating the nation's morality of "remembering the source of water when drinking". In particular, Hung Long Communal House is the place where the Cau Bong Festival of the Kinh people takes place, which is listed in the list of national intangible cultural heritages.

Mr. Ngo Tan Bong, Head of the Hung Long Communal House Management Board, has been involved in the work of looking after, caring for and organizing festival activities at the relic for more than 14 years. Mr. Bong said: Up to now, this work has been entirely based on the voluntary work of the members of the Management Board - the descendants of those who opened up this land. Although there has been no support, everyone shares the same wish: to keep the communal house always neat and solemn and to continue the cultural tradition left by their ancestors.

“The Provincial People’s Council passed a resolution to support the relic caretakers, we are very excited. This is a great source of spiritual encouragement, helping us have more motivation to do better in preserving our homeland’s heritage” - Mr. Bong expressed.

The Provincial People's Council has passed a Resolution regulating the level of support for those working and directly supervising works commemorating martyrs, cemeteries for officials and meritorious people, and ranked relics in Dong Nai province. The Resolution takes effect from October 3, 2025. Thereby, ensuring the rights as well as increasing the responsibility of the forces that are day and night preserving and protecting the ranked works and relics.

Humane and practical policy

According to Mr. Ngo Tan Bong, the Resolution of the 1st Congress of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee, term 2025-2030, has determined that cultural development is on par with economic development. Therefore, the issuance of support policies for those who directly look after relics and works commemorating martyrs is a concrete step, clearly demonstrating the spirit of "taking people as the center of cultural development". Because those who preserve relics are the "bridge" between the past and the present, and are the ones who contribute to maintaining the vitality of local cultural heritages.

According to the resolution recently passed by the Provincial People's Council, people working and directly supervising works commemorating martyrs and ranked relics in the province will receive monthly support appropriate to the nature, scale and ranking level of each type of relic.

Specifically, for those working at martyrs' memorial works, cadres' cemeteries - meritorious people are divided into 3 levels. In which, the provincial level support is 3.5 million VND/person/month; commune level (in the area with martyrs' cemeteries) is 2.8 million VND/person/month and commune level (in the area without martyrs' cemeteries) is 1.9 million VND/person/month.

For workers and direct caretakers of relics ranked at special national and national levels, the support level is 3.5 million VND/person/month and for relics ranked at provincial level, it is 2.8 million VND/person/month. The funding source for implementation is taken from the provincial budget according to the current budget allocation.

The issuance of support policies for those directly looking after relics and works commemorating martyrs not only demonstrates the government's responsibility in heritage conservation but also recognizes the persistent contributions of those who are quietly preserving Dong Nai's heritage. This is also a motivation for those who look after relics to continue to stick with their work, contributing to spreading the value of heritage, fostering cultural identity, and building a comprehensively developed, friendly, and affectionate Dong Nai people.

My Ny

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/van-hoa/202510/chinh-sach-ho-tro-cho-nguoi-trong-coi-di-tich-dd9235d/