France officially handed over a Dong Son bronze drum to Vietnam during a ceremony held on September 10 at the French Ministry of Culture in Paris, attended by senior officials from both countries.
Among those present was Ngo Phuong Ly, spouse of Vietnam's General Secretary and President To Lam.
According to Vietnam's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, French experts authenticated the artefact as dating from around the fifth century BC. The bronze drum measures 40.7 centimetres in height, 54.5 centimetres in diameter and weighs 17.2 kilos.
A close-up of the Dong Son bronze drum after the handover (Photo: International Cooperation Department).
The artefact was seized by French customs officials at Rennes Airport in 2014 after being found without valid documentation.
Following the confiscation, the drum was transferred to the Museum of Fine Arts of Rennes, where it was preserved, studied and stored for more than a decade.
French authorities hand over the Dong Son bronze drum to Vietnam (Photo: International Cooperation Department).
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong said the return of the Dong Son bronze drum represented far more than the repatriation of a valuable antiquity.
"It is the return of a heritage symbol and a sacred part of Vietnam's cultural identity," he said.
Dong expressed gratitude to the French government, the French Ministry of Culture, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, French customs authorities, the city of Rennes and the Museum of Fine Arts of Rennes, as well as other institutions involved in preserving, verifying and facilitating the return of the artefact.
He also acknowledged the efforts of the Vietnamese Embassy in France and Ambassador Trinh Duc Hai in coordinating the repatriation process.
According to Dong, the return of the bronze drum demonstrates the increasingly deep cooperation between Vietnam and France in the field of cultural heritage preservation.
He added that the repatriation aligns with international cultural cooperation trends and UNESCO principles, while reflecting mutual respect between nations and cultures.
Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong speaks at the handover ceremony for the Dong Son bronze drum in France (Photo: International Cooperation Department).
French Culture Minister Catherine Pegard also highlighted the role of culture in the long-standing relationship between France and Vietnam.
She said the return of the Dong Son bronze drum reflects respect for cultural heritage and contributes to strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
The handover took place during the official visit to France by General Secretary and President To Lam and his spouse.
