Decision No. 281/2006/QĐ-TTg Approves the Project for Building the National History Museum

DECISION OF THE PRIME MINISTER

Approving the Project on Building the National History Museum

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PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to the Law on Cultural Heritage dated June 29, 2001;

Pursuant to Decree No. 92/2002/NĐ-CP dated November 11, 2002 of the Government detailing certain provisions of the Law on Cultural Heritage;

Pursuant to Decision No. 156/2005/QĐ-TTg dated June 23, 2005 of the Prime Minister approving the Master Plan for the Overall System of Museums in Vietnam until 2020;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Culture and Information at Circular No. 53/TTr-BVHTT dated May 17, 2006,

DECISION:

Article 1. Approves the Project on Building the National History Museum with the main contents as follows:

1. Objectives

a) Establishing a cultural work of great importance and long-term significance in politics, ideology, culture, and society to preserve and promote the value of Vietnam's historical and cultural heritage; exhibiting and introducing the history of the nation, significant achievements in the process of founding, defending, and building the country; the culture and creative talents of the Vietnamese ethnic communities; educating and promoting the fine traditions of our people, contributing to the training of human resources during the period of industrialization and modernization of the country;

b) Completing and enhancing the quality and core role of the national museum; overcoming current limitations in material and technical infrastructure and the separation of the continuous development of the country's history into two parts at two different museums (Vietnam History Museum and Vietnam Revolution Museum). The National History Museum will be established based on the collections of materials and objects, and the core staff from the Vietnam History Museum and the Vietnam Revolution Museum, supplemented and enriched from various sources across the country to introduce the nation's history as a unified, comprehensive, and continuous entity from the past to the present, linking the history of the Party and the revolutionary history within the broader context of the country's history, affirming the position and role of leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam in the historical process of the nation during the modern and contemporary periods;

c) Serving the needs for scientific research, learning, information provision, dissemination of knowledge about history, cultural heritage, museology, and cultural enjoyment of domestic and international audiences, contributing to economic and social development.

2. Requirements

a) Ensuring scientific, national, and modern aspects in the exhibition and introduction of the country's history and reflecting the life of society through various historical periods. Emphasizing comprehensiveness in terms of history; highlighting important events, key milestones, and outstanding cultural achievements that mark the level of civilization of the nation, affirming the position and role of leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam in the historical process of the nation during the modern and contemporary periods; the multi-ethnic nature, unity in diversity of Vietnamese culture, and the integration of ethnic communities to build and develop the country;

b) The National History Museum must be a modern cultural work commensurate with the history of the nation, a leading museum in the system of historical-social museums, the largest museum in Vietnam; implementing innovation in forms and methods of operation; regularly keeping up with and objectively reflecting new research results in historiography and related sciences, the achievements of the renewal process led by our Party; applying modern science and technology in all stages of museum work; expanding cooperation in introducing historical and cultural heritage among museums both domestically and internationally, and collections from organizations and individuals, implementing socialization of museum activities;

c) The National History Museum must become an information center and a "data bank" on history, cultural heritage, and museology, contributing to training and nurturing high-level professionals in specialized fields, meeting the requirements for the development of the Vietnamese Museum industry.

3. On the structure of exhibition content, collecting and supplementing new materials and objects, and training human resources for the National History Museum

a) The National History Museum includes the following main functional areas:

- Exhibition area following the historical progression of Vietnam through major periods: prehistoric times, the first state-building period, the period from the end of the 2nd century BC to the 10th century AD, the period from the 10th century to the mid-19th century, and the period from the mid-19th century to the present;

- Special topic exhibition lines and supplementary collections supporting the systematic historical progression exhibition;

- Space for "Exploration - Creativity" and exhibitions for young people;

- Outdoor exhibition space and organization of traditional cultural activities;

- A memorial area for historical, revolutionary, and cultural-scientific figures placed in a prominent position according to tradition and the sentiments of the Vietnamese people to honor their great contributions and outstanding values throughout each era, especially the era of President Ho Chi Minh.

b) Based on the structure of exhibition content, the Ministry of Culture and Information will develop detailed exhibition content and form for the National History Museum.

c) The Ministry of Culture and Information will direct the Vietnam History Museum and the Vietnam Revolution Museum to develop and implement annual programs and plans for the collection and supplementation of new materials and objects, and the training of staff with sufficient management and professional qualifications to meet the requirements for management and operation when the National History Museum begins operations.

4. Location for constructing the National History Museum

The location for constructing the National History Museum is in the southeastern part of the Friendship Park, within the new West Lake Urban Area, Xuan Dinh Commune, Thuy Liem District, Hanoi City, with a land usage scale of approximately 10 hectares within the 28-hectare Friendship Park area.

5. Requirements for architectural and technical solutions

a) Regarding architecture: The National History Museum must be a complex of architectural works designed and constructed to ensure national characteristics and modernity, with regional and international significance, meeting usage requirements and high quality standards. The architectural form should be beautiful, space organization flexible, suitable for Vietnam's climate conditions, meeting specialized professional requirements of the museum; interior and exterior decoration should be appropriate for usage requirements and reflect national characteristics.

The National History Museum is a large cultural project with long-term significance; it is necessary to organize an international competition for the design of the architectural work to select the best option.

Hire foreign experts to advise on museum exhibition techniques.

b) Regarding technology: The technical systems and equipment for the construction project must ensure synchronization, modernity according to international standards, high reliability, safety, ease of use, energy efficiency, and economic viability, ensuring Vietnamese environmental standards.

There should be separate pathways and transportation means for people with disabilities.

6. Implementation stages

a) From 2006 to 2010

- Establish the State Steering Committee for the Construction of the National History Museum;

- Establish the Project Management Board, the Research Board for Content and Exhibition Form of the National History Museum;

- Collect and supplement new materials and artifacts, and train management staff with sufficient capacity to manage and operate the new, large-scale, and modern museum;

- Organize procedures related to the land for constructing the National History Museum;

- Organize an international competition for the design of the architectural work;

- Prepare, review, and approve the Investment Project for Construction and the total budget estimate of the project;

- Commence and complete the construction of the project.

b) From 2010 to 2012:

- Proceed with organizational procedures to merge the Vietnam National History Museum and the Vietnam Revolutionary Museum, establishing the National History Museum;

- Design the museum's interior;

- Organize exhibitions;

- Officially inaugurate.

7. Project sponsor: Ministry of Construction.

8. Sources of investment capital

a) State budget funds and other legitimate sources of funding;

b) The total investment amount will be determined upon approval of the Investment Project for Construction of the National History Museum.

Article 2. Implementation

1. The Prime Minister decides to establish the State Steering Committee for the Construction of the National History Museum, headed by a Deputy Prime Minister, with members including representatives from the Ministry of Culture - Information, the Ministry of Construction, the Government Office, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, the Institute of Social Sciences of Vietnam, the People's Committee of Hanoi City, the National Heritage Council, and the Project Management Board.

2. The Ministry of Culture - Information has the responsibility:

a) To be responsible for the professional requirements and content of the Project, the content and form of the museum's exhibitions; organizing the collection and supplementation of new materials and artifacts, and developing plans to train and enhance management and professional staff to take over and manage the use of the completed project;

b) To coordinate with the Ministry of Construction to organize an international competition for the design of the architectural work;

c) To proceed with organizational procedures to merge the Vietnam National History Museum and the Vietnam Revolutionary Museum, establishing the National History Museum;

d) To organize exhibitions and officially inaugurate the National History Museum.

3. The Ministry of Construction has the responsibility:

a) To be fully responsible for the construction of the National History Museum project;

b) To establish the Project Management Board;

c) To lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Culture - Information to organize an international competition for the design of the architectural work; organizing the preparation and submission to the competent authority for review and approval of the Investment Project for Construction of the project according to current regulations;

d) To study and propose mechanisms and policies applicable to the construction and implementation of the project.

4. The Ministry of Planning and Investment leads and coordinates with the Ministry of Finance:

a) To review the Investment Project for Construction of the National History Museum;

b) To balance and allocate funds according to the approved plan for the construction of the National History Museum.

c) Ministries: Finance, Home Affairs, Science and Technology, Natural Resources and Environment, the Institute of Social Sciences of Vietnam, and relevant ministries and sectors, within their assigned functions, duties, and powers, have the responsibility to coordinate with the Ministry of Culture - Information and the Ministry of Construction to implement the tasks and goals set out.

5. The People's Committee of Hanoi City and its functional agencies shall proceed with procedures related to the land for constructing the National History Museum, implementing current regulations on investment and construction management.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 4. BThe Minister of Culture - Information, the Minister of Construction, the Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, and the Chairman of the People's Committee of Hanoi City are responsible for implementing this Decision./.