France supports 15 billion VND to help Vietnam preserve heritage

May 9, French Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolas Warnery announced the launch of the cooperation project “Sharing and preserving Vietnamese heritage”. The objective of the project is to concretize the cooperation between French and Vietnamese cultural agencies and organizations, in order to promote and preserve the natural and cultural heritages of Vietnam.

The French Ambassador said that this project opens a new phase in the very meaningful cooperation between France and Vietnam, expressing the desire of both countries to strengthen cooperation in the field of heritage, especially in the field of heritage. conservation activities, through training and professional exchanges.

Coordinated by the French Embassy in Vietnam, the project “Sharing and preserving” Vietnamese Heritage” will have the participation of many French and Vietnamese partners, such as art museum, human science museum (history, ethnology…), natural history museum, science center and engineering, nature reserves, universities and governments at all levels.

The first meeting of the Project Coordination Committee took place on 9 May with the presence of Ambassador Nicolas Warnery, Mr. Matthieu Berton – Director of the Department of International Relations, Ministry of Culture, Mr. Denis Duclos – Director of External Relations French National Museum of Natural History, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Trung Minh – General Director of Vietnam Museum of Nature.

The project receives funding up to 14 billion VND for the period 2022-2024 from the French government and will be supplemented by other French partners.

The project focuses on three main areas: Professional training for staff working in the museum industry in Vietnam; Developing training programs on museum professions in universities in Vietnam; Support in the design of pilot projects in heritage conservation in 3 regions of Vietnam, with the cooperation of French and Vietnamese experts: Renovating the Visitor Center of Cuc Phuong National Park (Ninh) Binh), supported the Center for Environmental Education and Communication of Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area (Quang Nam), in designing and implementing “Storytelling Boxes” for museums (HCMC).

At the press conference, Ms. Sophie Maysonnave – Counselor for Cultural Cooperation and Activity – said: Cultural cooperation, especially in the field of museums and heritage, is one of the solid and long-standing pillars. between France and Vietnam. From 2004 to 2011, France actively cooperated through a project to promote Vietnam’s museum heritage. Experts from the largest French museums, in many industries, have participated in the development of projects with many Vietnamese partners such as the Museum of Ethnology, the Museum of Champa Sculpture in Da Nang, the museum. Dak Lak.

Mr. Denis Duclos – Director of External Relations of the French National Museum of Natural History said that the cooperation relationship between the French National Museum of Natural History and Vietnamese academic and scientific agencies has existed since long time and cultivated in many different fields.

The quality and activities of preserving heritage as well as museums have made an important contribution to making France a leading tourist destination in the world and a positive contribution to the economic growth of France.

In 2019, the contribution of the tourism and travel industry to France’s GDP reached 211 billion euros (8.5% of the national economy) and impacted many economic sectors such as accommodation, restaurants, transport. , sales, museum, tour guide…. Preserve and promote heritage is to create quality job opportunities and contribute to sustainable economic growth.