U.S. Embassy and Vietnam Museum of History Unveil Results of The 2006 Ambassador’s Fund For Cultural Preservation

July 19, 2007

United States Ambassador to Vietnam Michael W. Marine and Ministry of Culture and Information’s Vice Director of International Relations Nguyen Van Nhan will unveil the results of the 2006 Ambassador’s Fund For Cultural Preservation on Friday July 20 at 4 p.m.  The ceremony will take place at the Vietnam History Museum (1 Trang Tien, Hanoi) and will be hosted by Deputy Director Dinh Van Thin. 

This important project funded the restoration and preservation of a collection of 70 Buddhist and ancestral devotional artifacts that represent part of the rich cultural heritage of Vietnam.

The Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation was established by the U.S. Department of State in 2001 to help less developed countries preserve cultural heritage and to demonstrate U.S. respect for other cultures.  In 2006, this fund awarded grants worth $2.8 million to 87 projects in 76 countries, including the project with the Ministry of Culture and Information of Vietnam.  To date this Fund has supported 292 projects totaling $6.7 million.  Vietnam has been the recipient of six such grants.

Reporters who plan to attend the ceremony are asked to register with Mr. Ngo Quang Minh, Information Assistant, U.S. Embassy at ngomq@state.gov or phone: 850-5000 (extension 6150) before noon, July 20, 2007.