Committee for Cultural Policy

Vietnam is pushing for a bold cultural move by requesting U.S. restrictions on the import of its archaeological and ethnological materials, spanning from the Paleolithic era to 1945. This request includes virtually every item crafted by human hands, from gold and ivory to silk and calligraphy. At the same time, the Vietnamese government is fostering a flourishing domestic market where wealthy citizens are free to collect these very artifacts, even as they demand repatriation from abroad. The growing influence of private museums like Do Hung’s in Ho Chi Minh City showcases Vietnam’s paradoxical stance—preserving heritage for the local elite while restricting access to global citizens, especially those in the Vietnamese diaspora.

The government's desire to safeguard its cultural treasures seems to conflict with its booming tourism industry, as UNESCO-listed sites like Hạ Long Bay and Hội An draw millions of visitors annually. Meanwhile, historical artifacts like the Goddess Durga statue are returned to Vietnam in high-profile ceremonies, adding to the tension between preservation, nationalism, and global access to heritage. Vietnam’s cultural policies raise critical questions: Should its socialist government hold exclusive rights over its ancient artifacts, or should these treasures be shared globally, particularly with Vietnamese Americans longing to reconnect with their roots?

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Vietnam’s Request for Cultural Property Agreement Stretching from 1945 to 77,000 years ago UPDATE! The February 4, 2005 hearing on renewal of MOUs with Italy, Chile and Morocco and a new proposed MOU with Vietnam was cancelled on January 31! The State Department's Cultural Heritage Bureau stated that

Part III of our Cultural Cookbook features recipes from Papua New Guinea, Thailand, and the Philippines: Sago Grub Sate with Peanut Sauce; Flying Fox (or chicken!) with Prunes and Cream Sauce; Bananas on Fire, and more. Click the link below to learn about these traditional recipes and try them yourself (with the exception of Paua Sup)!

Cultural Cookbook 3: Papuan and East Asian Medley Recipes from Papua New Guinea From the mettle-testing menu of the as-yet-only-dreamed-of Extreme Cuisine Restaurant, some of these recipes from a friend raised on an alligator farm in Papua New Guinea contain surprising ingredients. Sago grubs