Vietnamese PM issued a Decision no. 2599/QĐ-TTg dated 30/12/2013 to recognize national treasures for objects and collections that are preserved in museums and cultural historical relics nationwide. VNMH holds 3 national treasures including:
1. Viet Khe boat-shaped coffin: It was discovered and excavated in 1961 in Viet Khe construction site, Ngoc Khe village, Phu Ninh hamlet, Thuy Nguyen district, Hai Phong city. The coffin is 476cm long, 77cm wide. Inside the coffin, they found over 100 objects made of various materials and said to belong to Dong Son culture.
Viet Khe coffin
2. Van Ban Pagoda’s bell: It is a bronze bell, found in Do Son, Hai Phong, 1958. It dates back Tran dynasty, XIII-XVI century, 127cm in height, 80cm diameter.
Van Ban Pagoda’s bell
3. Vo Canh stele
It was found in the border between Vo Canh village and Pho Van village, Vinh Xuong district, Khanh Hoa province. This is the earliest stele of Champa Kingdom and of Vietnam (II-III century). It is 270cm high, 110cm wide and 80cm thick.
Vo Canh stele
So, through 2 times of recognition as national treasures (the first in Oct.2012), VNMH has 14 national treasures on list.
Minh Vượng
EN: Tran Trang