Organizational structure of the National Cultural Heritage Council in Vietnam

Organizational structure of the National Cultural Heritage Council in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. Organizational structure of the National Cultural Heritage Council in Vietnam

The organizational structure of the National Cultural Heritage Council is specified in Article 4 of Decision 1522/QD-TTg 2020 as follows:

- The number of members participating in the Council shall not exceed 27 members; including: President, one Vice President in charge of tangible cultural heritage, one Vice President in charge of intangible cultural heritage and documentary heritage, one Standing Member, and Council members

- Council members are experts, scientists, and managers with high political qualities, ethics, reputation, and professional capacity in the fields of culture, art, history, archaeology, museums, architecture, natural resources and environment, and documentary heritage and majors related to the field of cultural heritage, ensuring representatives of regions have enough health and time to perform assigned tasks. Encourage and prioritize the selection of experts, scientists, and managers with experience in international cooperation with UNESCO on cultural heritage.

- The Council has specialized industry groups established in accordance with the Council's term of operation program;

- The working term of Council members is 5 years. Council members shall participate in no more than 2 consecutive terms.

- The Prime Minister appoints the Standing Council, including: Chairman, Vice Presidents, and Standing Members, at the request of the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (List of Standing Council members for the 2020–2024 term is issued together with this Decision).

- The Prime Minister assigns the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to decide on the appointment, adjustment, addition, and replacement of Council members and decides to promulgate the Council's operating regulations based on the proposal of the Council Chairman.

- The Council has an assisting agency, the Council Office, located at the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, directed directly by the Standing Member of the Council. The Council Office employs civil servants from the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, working on a part-time basis. The specific functions and tasks of the Council Office are decided by the Council Chairman.

2. Duties and powers of the National Cultural Heritage Council in Vietnam

- The Council is responsible for advising the Prime Minister on the following contents:

+ Directions, strategies, and major policies on protecting and promoting cultural heritage values;

+ Ranked as a special national monument; Determining only protected areas for special national monuments;

+ Recognition of national treasure;

+ Taking national treasures abroad for a limited period of time for display, exhibition, research, or preservation;

+ Establishment of national museums and specialized museums;

+ Appraisal of dossiers requesting the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to include relics, natural heritage, landscapes, intangible cultural heritage, and Vietnam's typical documentary heritage on the World Heritage List;

+ Scientific issues on cultural heritage related to large socio-economic projects;

+ Participate in developing and commenting on legal documents on cultural heritage.

- Appraise documents on cultural heritage submitted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to the Prime Minister according to the provisions of the Law on Cultural Heritage.

- Provide opinions on other important issues relating to cultural heritage requested by the Prime Minister or that the Council finds it necessary to propose to the Prime Minister.

- Organize Council activities (regular and extraordinary meetings, thematic sessions, surveys, scientific conferences, international cooperation, etc.).

- The Council has its own seal and accounts. The Council's operating budget (excluding salaries) is provided by the state budget and is allocated in the annual budget estimate of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

(Article 3 of Decision 1522/QD-TTg 2020)

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE