Strengthening protection of antiquities after man destroys throne in Thai Hoa palace

Specifically, Official Dispatch No. 566/DSVH-DT stated: On May 24, 2025, on a number of social networking sites, there were reports about the Nguyen Dynasty's throne at the Hue Monuments being violated.

Regarding this matter, the Department of Cultural Heritage requested the Hue Monuments Conservation Center to urgently organize an inspection and assessment of the current status, ensure security and safety, promptly protect national treasures and Hue Monuments and report to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism before May 26.

The original throne at Thai Hoa Palace before being damaged.

The Department also requested the Center to assess the technical status of national treasures, promptly propose solutions for handling and preservation in accordance with the provisions of the law on cultural heritage, and at the same time strengthen the protection, preservation and promotion of the value of national treasures according to the instructions in Official Dispatch No. 1669/BVHTTDL-DSVH dated April 22, 2024 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on strengthening the protection, preservation and promotion of the value of national treasures and preparing a dossier of artifacts to propose recognition of national treasures in the 13th batch, 2024.

Subject Ho Van Phuong Tam causing trouble in the National Treasure protection area. (Photo: QUANG TIEN)

According to the report of the Department of Cultural Heritage, at 11:55 a.m. on May 24, Ho Van Phuong Tam, born on February 10, 1983, permanent residence: Group 7, Area 4, Huong Long Ward, Phu Xuan District, Hue City, bought an entrance ticket to the Hue Imperial City.

Through camera extraction and initial investigation by the authorities, at the time of the incident, two security guards, Dang Quang Long and Dao Hoang Vu, were both present in the Thai Hoa Palace area. When entering the Thai Hoa Palace area, the subject showed abnormal behavior, a security guard invited the subject to go to the back of the palace. However, the subject then returned, sneaked into the Nguyen Dynasty throne display area, shouted and then broke the front left armrest.

To prevent the subject from acting rashly and destroying other exhibits, security guards approached from a distance, reminded the subject to go outside, and called for additional support. At 12:10 p.m., Tam was subdued and reported to Dong Ba Ward Police.

Dong Ba Ward Police have drawn up a record of the arrest of Ho Van Phuong Tam, but have not been able to record his statement because he showed signs of mental disorder, screaming, and talking nonsense, unable to answer the investigator's questions.

Currently, the Investigation Police Agency of Hue City Police is conducting a psychiatric assessment of Ho Van Phuong Tam and coordinating with the People's Procuracy of Phu Xuan District to collect documents and evidence to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the relevant parties in order to resolve the case in accordance with the procedures and regulations of the law.

Image of the Throne in the relic records.

Currently, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center has directed the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum to bring the Nguyen Dynasty throne to preserve and maintain at the antiquities warehouse and at the same time bring the restored throne to display at Thai Hoa Palace to serve tourists.

This is an extremely rare incident, although in recent times the Hue Monuments Conservation Center has had many solutions to ensure security in the heritage site such as increasing the installation of surveillance cameras, developing regulations for assigning security guards, and having mobile units regularly inspect the relic sites...

To prevent similar incidents, in the coming time, the Center will develop a plan to ensure strict security and safety in the heritage site in general and for artifacts, antiquities... especially national treasures, focusing on solutions: strengthening security equipment, support tools; strengthening protection work, training in handling security situations, early detection and prevention of suspicious phenomena...

Regarding the Nguyen Dynasty Throne, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center will invite experts and artisans to evaluate and develop a suitable restoration plan; at the same time, there will be plans to increase forces and means to ensure the safety of the system of displayed artifacts.

The current Law on Cultural Heritage and Clause 2, Article 9 of the 2024 Law on Cultural Heritage stipulate the prohibited act of "infringing upon and destroying cultural heritage".

The Penal Code also stipulates in line with the Law on Cultural Heritage the crime of violating regulations on acts of destroying property belonging to historical-cultural relics, scenic spots, and landscapes, at different levels of consequences.

Previously, on April 22, the Department of Cultural Heritage issued Official Dispatch 1669/BVHTTDL-DSVH to ministries, branches, political organizations, socio-political organizations at the Central level and People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities requesting to strengthen the protection, preservation and promotion of the value of national treasures.

Accordingly, the Department recommends that relevant agencies and localities have special protection plans for each national treasure, paying attention to measures to prevent and combat fire, explosion, theft, natural disasters and other harmful risks to ensure absolute safety for national treasures.

For national treasures currently kept at relics or privately owned, it is necessary to regularly and effectively implement inter-sectoral coordination programs and plans between cultural agencies, police and local authorities in protection; clearly identify the organizations and individuals with primary responsibility.

The document also requested relevant agencies to prepare a dossier of artifacts to propose recognition as national treasures in the 13th phase, 2024.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tang-cuong-bao-ve-co-vat-sau-vu-nguoi-dan-ong-pha-hong-ngai-vang-trong-dien-thai-hoa-post882201.html