Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung (third from right) at the hand over ceremony involving representatives of the FBI, the US Department of State, and the US Department of Homeland Security. (Photo: VOV’s correspondent in the US)

The FBI took possession of the artefacts during an operation from 2013 to 2014. It is the largest single discovery of cultural property in FBI history.

A year before his death, the man agreed to relinquish these items and wished to return them to their rightful owners. With the help of experts, the FBI has managed to identify several unidentified artefacts from Vietnam, including a vase/pot, an 8-piece set of tool kit made of bronze, and a stone axe.

Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung said at the hand over ceremony, “This demonstrates the US’s goodwill and commitment to the UN conventions against trans-national organized crime. We’ll soon deliver these items to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnam National Museum of History for assessment, research, and exhibition.”  

Ambassador Dung said Vietnam and the US have carried out coordinated activities under a “Memorandum of Understanding on prevention and control of trans-national crimes” signed by the Ministry of Pubic Security and the FBI.