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The royal seal was handed over at the Vietnamese Embassy in Paris, France, on November 16, 2023, after more than a year of negotiations and the completion of legal procedures by both Vietnamese and French parties.
According to the Department of Cultural Heritage, the gold seal is 10.4 cm tall, weighs 10.78 kg, and has dimensions of 13.8x13.7 cm.
The treasure holds cultural significance as a symbol of political power during a crucial period in Vietnamese history, representing the shift from monarchy to modern democracy in the Ho Chi Minh era.
The seal was created in 1823 during the reign of King Minh Mang, the second emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty, who ruled from 1820 to 1841.
The Nguyen Dynasty, reigning from 1802 to 1945, was Vietnam's final monarchy. During this period, they created over 100 seals, frequently made of gold, silver, or precious jade. The National Museum of History currently houses and preserves 85 valuable jade seals from the Nguyen Dynasty.
An imprint of the gold seal of the Nguyen Dynasty
The seal is a highly valuable historical and cultural heritage for Vietnam, said Nguyen The Hong, a representative of Nam Hong Museum. He expresses hope that more precious artifacts will be returned to the country in the future.
On October 19, 2022, Millon, a French auction house, revealed its auction of 329 antiquities, which included two items from the Nguyen Dynasty: a golden seal crafted in 1823 during the rule of King Minh Mang and a golden bowl made under the reign of King Khai Dinh, who ruled from 1917 to 1925.
Once the seal's authenticity was confirmed, a Vietnamese inter-ministerial delegation and the auction house agreed to transfer it back to the nation.
On November 14, 2023, all parties agreed to follow the necessary legal processes and procedures to return the seal to Vietnam, in accordance with the laws of Vietnam and France.
Nam Hong Museum in Bac Ninh province has been selected to handle the necessary financial procedures. The contract to purchase the seal, valued at EUR6.1 million, was signed in France on January 13.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism directed the museum to preserve, display, and collaborate with the National Museum of History to safeguard and enhance the heritage's value as per the Cultural Heritage Law.
The Nguyen Dynasty's gold imperial seal was handed over to Vietnam at a ceremony held at the Vietnamese Embassy in France on November 16, 2023

A close look at Nguyen Dynasty’s gold imperial seal returned to Vietnam

(VOVWORLD) - Nam Hong Museum in Bac Ninh province has been selected as the custodian for the Nguyen Dynasty's gold imperial seal—a priceless Vietnamese antique that was stolen and taken abroad but has recently been returned to the country. The museum is now dedicated to preserving and showcasing this significant historical artifact.