Establishment of National Council to Restore Nguyen Dynasty Throne Violated by Tourists

A National Council is expected to be established this week to discuss plans to restore the Nguyen Dynasty Throne - an artifact recognized as a national treasure, after it was damaged by a tourist showing signs of psychosis on May 24.

The Hue City People's Committee has sent a dispatch to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposing the establishment of a National Council to assess the extent of the damage and develop a plan to restore the Throne. There are two options proposed: one is that the Council be established directly by the Ministry, and the other is that the Ministry authorizes the Hue City People's Committee to establish it.

The Council Chairman will be the Director or Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage; members include representatives of state management agencies, heritage experts, and wooden antique restoration experts from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hue. After the assessment conclusion, the Council will send a report to the Hue City People's Committee to develop a restoration plan, submit it to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism for consideration, before reporting to the Prime Minister according to regulations.

Mr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Hue City, said: The Department of Culture and Sports of Hue City also advised to invite 11 members to join the Council, who are representatives of cultural management agencies, experts in research and restoration of antiques in Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City and Hue. The Council will conduct surveys, analyze and propose restoration methods appropriate to the historical and artistic values of national treasures.

Previously, at around 11:55 a.m. on May 24, Mr. Ho Van Phuong Tam (born in 1983, residing in Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City) bought a ticket to visit the Hue Imperial City. When arriving at the Thai Hoa Palace area, this person showed unusual behavior. Although the security guard invited him to leave the area, the subject still returned, climbed onto the Throne, screamed and broke the left-hand support of the artifact.

At around 12:10 p.m. the same day, the authorities subdued the suspect and handed him over to Dong Ba Ward Police to make a record and handle the case according to regulations. The case is currently being investigated by Hue City Police.