Taking antiquities out of Vietnam
Export of Vietnamese cultural heritage relics is prohibited under the Law on Cultural Heritage 2001 (amended 2009). State-classified relics may not depart without Ministry of Culture permit.
Details
Vietnam's Law on Cultural Heritage (Law No. 28/2001/QH10, amended 2009) prohibits export of cultural heritage relics classified by the State. Relics are classified as national-level or provincial-level by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST). Temporary export for exhibitions may be authorised by the Prime Minister. Penalties: up to 10 years imprisonment for illegal cultural relic export under Penal Code 2015. Vietnam is a UNESCO 1970 Convention signatory.
Quantity limits
Classified relics: export prohibited; temporary scientific/exhibition export requires Prime Ministerial authorisation
Documentation required
- MCST (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) cultural relic export permit
- State heritage classification certificate
- Prime Ministerial decree for temporary exhibition export
- General Department of Vietnam Customs export declaration
The other direction
Bringing antiquities into Vietnam(restricted)