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| Ms. Sophie Maysonnave (middle) sharing at the official meeting |
Addressing at the meeting, Mr. Hoang Viet Trung, Director of Hue Monuments Conservation Center proposed that the French Embassy and French Institute in Vietnam continue to support several key areas of cooperation in the near future. First and foremost is assisting in locating, accessing, and digitizing original documents to support the restoration of major structures within the Complex of Hue Monuments, such as the Thai To Temple, Can Chanh Palace, Dai Cung Gate, and Co Ha Garden. The Center also hopes that France will coordinate to carry out survey missions for archival research, provide technical support, and connect with major archival institutions such as the National Library of France, École française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO), and the French Army Museum, etc.
Furthermore, the center also suggested the cooperation to develop Tang Tho Pavilion in Hue (Tang Tho Lau) into a heritage document archive – research – exhibition center, following the model of an open library and a digital museum. Additionally, the center also called for cooperation in training and capacity building for heritage conservation staff. Intensive training courses, short-term internships in France, and two-way expert exchanges would serve as a foundation for Hue to gradually align with international standards in the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage.
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| Ms. Sophie Maysonnave - Counselor for Cooperation and Cultural Activities having a commemorative photo during the visit and working trip at Hue Monuments Conservation Center |
Another important topic mentioned at the meeting was the connection and mobilization of financial and technical resources from international conservation funds such as UNESCO, Fondation du Patrimoine, and Aliph Fund. These resources would support projects such as document digitization, exhibitions at the museums, and the development of archival and research infrastructure.
The Center expressed its desire to collaborate with France in surveying, verifying, and promoting the repatriation of the Nguyen Dynasty antiquities that are currently dispersed in private collections or cultural institutions in France. This cooperation would aim toward organizing joint exhibitions, restoring and digitizing the artifacts, and enhancing international communication efforts to build public support for the heritage repatriation journey.
Acknowledging the cooperation proposals, Ms. Sophie Maysonnave committed to supporting Hue Monuments Conservation Center in participating in training programs related to heritage conservation, archiving, and digitization. Regarding the funding for monument restoration, she stated that this matter would be passed on to her successor for further consideration in the near future.
The working session affirmed Hue’s ongoing efforts to expand international cooperation, especially with France, a country with deep historical and cultural ties to the former imperial capital to sustainably preserve and promote the value of its heritage.