Hanoi (VNA)෴ - The result of the historic repatriation of the gold seal "Hoang de chi bao" (Treasure of the Emperor) will be announced between April to June, 2023.

Tran Dinh Thanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage, revealed the information at a regular press conference in the first quarter of 2023 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Regarding the information saying that a Vietnamese collector had successfully purchased the gold seal, Thanh said that the department could not publish official information because the process of negotiation and repatriation is still ongoing. “Currently, we cannot provide specific information because we have to fulfill commitments between parties and carry out procedures to bring the golden seal back to Vietnam in accordance with the laws of Vietnam and France,” said Thanh. He affirmed that even though the seal is privately owned, the precious antique will not be sold abroad again. He cited Circular No.19 (2012) of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as saying that the list of antiquities that cannot be sent abroad includes relics and antiques made of materials with typical historical, cultural and scientific values of Vietnam’s historical periods before September 1945 such as seals. From the perspective of state management, the representative of the Department of Cultural Heritage was committed to ensuring the sound implementation of the law. Antiques may be brought abroad for display or exhibition to promote Vietnamese culture; or to be studied, preserved and restored due to unsatisfactory domestic technological conditions. Dr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, affirmed that the seal "Hoang de chi bao" of King Minh Mang has a particularly important significance associated with administrative and political activities of the Nguyen Dynasty. This is not only the largest and most beautiful gold seal of the Nguyen Dynasty, but also an antique with special values about Vietnam's culture and history in the contemporary period. On October 19, French auction house Millon announced its auction of 329 antiquities, including two dating back to the Nguyen Dynasty – a golden seal made in 1823 and a golden bowl made under the reign of King Khai Dinh (1917 - 1925). The auction of the seal was deferred twice by the Paris-based auction house due to "the strong interest of the Vietnamese State", as they announced on their website. According to the French auction house, the gold square seal is 10.4 cm high and weighs 10.78 kg. It was passed down from the second king of Nguyen Dynasty, Minh Mang (1791-1841) to its last, King Bao Dai (1913-1997). Its handle is in the form of a coiled dragon with a raised head. The dragon's forehead is engraved with the word Vuong (Emperor) which symbolises the emperor's supreme power, and each of its legs has five claws. The phrase “Hoang de chi bao” appears on the imperial seal. In January 2023, a Vietnamese collector from the northern province of Bac Ninh spent 6.1 million EUR (6.5 million USD) purchasing the seal. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the contract to purchase the seal was signed with Millon on January 13 in France. Authorities are carrying out procedures for the repatriation of the seal to Vietnam in accordance with the laws of both nations./.