Criteria for identifying monuments in Vietnam from July 1, 2025

Criteria for identifying monuments in Vietnam from July 1, 2025​ (Image from the Internet)

On November 23, 2024, the National Assembly of Vietnam passed the Cultural Heritage Law 2024.

Types of monuments in Vietnam from July 01, 2025

According to Article 21 of the Cultural Heritage Law 2024, relics include the following types:

- Historical - cultural relics: refers to architectural works, artistic works, groups of structures, locations, archaeological sites, or structures of an archaeological nature; artefacts, antiques, national treasures belonging to these constructions, building groups, locations, sites, or structures which have historical, cultural, or scientific value.

Among these, historical - cultural relics comprise the following types:

+ Historical relics include sites commemorating historical or cultural events, monuments to prominent figures;

+ Architectural, artistic relics;

+ Archaeological relics;

- Scenic spots: refers to natural landscapes or sites with a combination of architectural structures that possess historical, scientific, or aesthetic values.

- Mixed relics.

Criteria for identifying monuments in Vietnam from July 1, 2025

Under Article 22 of the Cultural Heritage Law 2024, the criteria for identifying relics from July 01, 2025, are stipulated as follows:

(1) Historical relics must satisfy one of the following criteria:

- Construction works or locations associated with prominent historical, cultural events of the nation or locality in the process of nation building and defense;

- Construction works or locations associated with the life and career of national heroes, prominent figures, historical figures who had a positive impact on the development of the nation or locality during one or more historical periods;

- Construction works or locations associated with the history of industrial, urban, rural development that had a positive impact on the development of the nation or locality during one or more historical periods.

(2) Architectural, artistic relics must meet the criteria of being architectural works, artistic works, urban architectural ensembles, rural locations, habitation areas, urban and rural zones, industrial works containing architectural structures and historical, cultural spaces with outstanding value for one or more stages of historical, architectural, artistic development.

(3) Archaeological relics must meet the criteria of being locations where remains related to human activity were discovered, with cultural layers containing relics, artefacts reflecting cultural history and humans, possessing notable value for one or more stages of history.

(4) Scenic spots must satisfy one of the following criteria:

- Natural landscapes with prominent historical, scientific, aesthetic value;

- Natural landscapes, locations combined with architectural works of notable historical, scientific, aesthetic value;

- Natural areas with scientific value in geology, geomorphology, geography, biodiversity, unique ecosystems, or natural areas containing material remains of different earth development stages.

(5) Mixed relics are relics that meet the criteria of at least two types of relics specified in (1), (2), (3) and (4).

09 activities to promote the value of relics in Vietnam from July 01, 2025

Activities to promote the value of relics include:

- Research, collection, documentation of relic values; the application of science and technology in promoting relic values;

- Dissemination, education, promotion, exhibition, and introduction domestically and internationally about the role, meaning, historical, cultural, scientific, and aesthetic value of relics;

- Guiding and interpreting for visitors;

- Organizing or partnering in organizing tourism activities, and services for public visits, research, and study at relics;

- Developing products, services, and facilitating the involvement of communities in the area with relics in developing related products and services;

- Researching, collecting, exhibiting, and showcasing documents and artefacts related to relic values;

- Cultural activities at relics; organizing performances, introducing intangible cultural heritages associated with relics;

- Exhibitions, mobile exhibitions outside the relic boundary;

- Other activities to promote the value of relics as prescribed by law.

(Article 26 of the Cultural Heritage Law 2024)

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