To allow heritage to "live" with life instead of being "imprisoned" in safety.

Effectively managing and promoting cultural heritage will contribute to socio-economic development. However, some localities still have a mindset of "fear of responsibility," leading to a situation where heritage sites are left neglected.

To allow heritage to

At the Le Hoan Temple National Special Monument (Xuan Lap commune, Tho Xuan district), many valuable artifacts are still preserved, such as imperial decrees, land documents, royal edicts, incense altars, ancient jars and bowls, and a stone plate believed to have been a gift from the Song Dynasty emperor to King Le Dai Hành. Since 2017, these artifacts have been kept in a separate room, secured by multiple layers of doors, and displayed only through photographs. This is a method of preserving their original state and ensuring their safety. However, a crucial point to remember in the exhibition is that nothing can replace the original artifacts. Only the original artifacts can fully reflect the information and maximize their value.

Professor Tu Thi Loan, Chairwoman of the Science and Training Council of the National Institute of Culture and Arts, once stated that some museums possess national treasures and artifacts, but due to concerns about theft and damage, they mainly focus on storing them away from social life. This approach stems from a fear of responsibility and a fear of making mistakes. If heritage preservation is only done in a "frozen" manner, it will be very difficult to promote its value, exploit its economic potential, and serve development goals.

Regarding the issue of valuable artifacts being damaged or lost, causing difficulties for some localities in protecting them, the Director of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Museum, Trinh Dinh Duong, said that localities can send artifacts to the museum for safekeeping, preservation, research, and display in thematic exhibitions. This is permitted by law. This way, the artifacts are both safe and their value is maximized.

The mindset that artifacts must be carefully concealed exists not only among individuals but also among the collective, and this is the barrier between artifacts and the public. Transforming cultural heritage values into a "material force" to promote socio-economic development is a major national question, but it must be answered and resolved effectively by cultural management officials at the grassroots level and at the commune level. Along with this, a comprehensive policy system for cultural heritage preservation must be developed to encourage and enhance the responsibility of officials and management agencies. The Law on Cultural Heritage is currently undergoing a consultation process for amendment; in addition to responsibly participating in the amendment process, individuals and organizations involved must raise their awareness and sense of responsibility to accept and implement the revised law. Only then can we hope to promote the value of cultural heritage in daily life, instead of "confining" it in a safe environment, accompanied by many negative consequences, as is happening in some localities.

Tue Minh

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