On the morning of August 28, 2024, the Vietnam National Museum of History (VNMH) held a repatriation ceremony of the bronze statue of the Goddess Durga and launched the thematic exhibition “Champa treasures - Traces of Time”
Panorama of the ceremony
Participants of the opening ceremony included Mr. Hoang Dao Cuong - Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Prof. Dr. Luu Tran Tieu - Chairman of the National Council of Cultural Heritage; Ms. Nguyen Phuong Hoa - Director of the Department of International Cooperation; Mr. Pham Dinh Phong - Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage; Assoc.Prof.Dr. Do Van Tru - Chairman of Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association; Prof. Dr. Pham Mai Hung - Vice President of Vietnam Association of Historical Science; Mr. Marc Knapper - US Ambassador to Vietnam; Mr. Kohdayar Marri - Pakistan Ambassador to Vietnam; Mr. Marcus Winsley - British Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam; Mr. Dao Danh Duc - Member of Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association (representative of the sponsor); Mr. Nguyen Van Doan - Director of VNMH; representatives of domestic and foreign agencies and organizations; representatives of news agencies in Hanoi and visitors.
The first part of event was the repatriation ceremony.
Mr. Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism giving a speech at the repartriation ceremony
HE. Mr. Marc Knapper, US Ambassador to Vietnam giving a speech at the repartriation ceremony
Mr. Nguyen Van Doan, Director of VNMH giving a speech at the repartriation ceremony
The Ministry of Justice and the US Department of Homeland Security in coordination with the London Metropolitan Police had confiscated a bronze statue of the Goddess Durga of Vietnamese origin from an illegal antiquities trade and proposed the possibility of returning the antique to Vietnam.
Thanks to the enthusiastic support of relevant agencies of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Finance; Vietnam Airlines Corporation; Constantine Company as well as the efforts of the Vietnam National Museum of History and sponsors (Mr. Dao Danh Duc and Mrs. Nguyen Ngoc Thuy), on June 18, 2024, the bronze statue of the Goddess Durga was safely transported to the storage of the VNMH and introduced in the ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, US Ambassador and Director of VNMH all affirmed that the reception and repatriation of the Goddess Durga bronze statue is the result of Vietnam's efforts in implementing the commitments of the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the means of prohibiting and preventing the illegal import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property. Vietnam also makes efforts in diplomatic relations to identify Vietnamese cultural heritage that was illegally taken abroad in the past and find ways to return these cultural heritage to their original places.
On this occasion, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnam National Museum of History awarded certificates of merit to domestic organizations and individuals who contributed to the process of bringing the artifact back to Vietnam.
Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong and delegates unveiled the bronze statue of the Goddess Durga
Individuals who contributed to repatriating the ancient statue are honored at the ceremony.
The second part of the event was the opening ceremony of the thematic exhibition “Champa Treasures - Traces of Time” organized by the VNMH in collaboration with the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association and Collector Dao Danh Duc. The exhibition introduces more than 60 typical artifacts of Champa culture made of precious materials, dating from the 17th -18th centuries..
The exhibition consists of typical artifacts: religious statues and mascots, jewelry and objects bearing religious symbols and royal authority. These artifacts are all exquisitely presented with a high level of technical jewelry making, and have special historical, cultural and artistic value.
Through the exhibition, the VNMH hopes that the domestic and foreign visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy antiques with unique historical, cultural, and artistic value and gain a deeper understanding of Champa's cultural history. From there, we can appreciate and raise awareness of preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of the nation.
The exhibition will be opened to the public from August 28th, 2024 to October 2024.
Mr. Nguyen Van Doan giving a speech at the opening ceremony
Delegates in ribbon cutting ceremony
Delegates visiting the exhibition
Visitor admire the statue and the exhibition
EN: Thu Hien