HCM CITY — The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has recommended to the Government to earmark VND11 trillion (US$526 million) for conserving relics in the next five years to catch up with the backlog under a national culture programme.
In the previous five years, under the National Target Programme on Culture VND4.54 trillion was allotted for protecting 130 relics and doing minor restoration works on 810 others but managed to only achieve 65 per cent and 80 per cent of the target, respectively.
The programme also funded the task of identifying and preserving 455 intangible heritage, compiling dossiers on intangible cultural masterpieces for UNESCO recognition, and preserving five traditional villages.
The ministry is likely to get VND15.4 trillion for the programme for the next five years.
The most important tasks in the period will be to complete the restoration and preservation of national relics including the former royal capital Hue, the old town of Hoi An, the Cham Sanctuary in My Son, the Hung Kings Temple in Phu Tho, and the ancient capital of Hoa Lu.
Some national-level historical and architectural landmarks and famous landscapes that facing deterioration will also be restored.
Monuments put up for revolutionary bases like ATK Viet Bac and others, the HCM Trail, and colonial-era prisons will get a face lift.
The ministry hopes to restore 50–60 relics each year and protect 100-150 others.
All this is expected to cost of VND11 trillion, with VND6.5 trillion coming from the Government's coffers, VND2.5 trillion from local funds, and VND2 trillion from other sources.
The ministry also proposes to earmark VND400 billion ($19 million) for collecting, preserving, and highlighting intangible heritage of Viet Nam's 54 different ethnic groups.
This will involve popularising heritage already identified, completing the intangible heritage map, and compiling dossiers on three relics for UNESCO approval.
Around VND800 billion is expected to be earmarked for developing traditional arts by building or upgrading performance venues, training artists, and compiling a school curriculum for traditional arts. — VNS