The restoration work
In parallel with other functional activities, from the early days after the establishment, the Museum has paid attention to the restoration works even though the technical structure was still very poor. The Museum have gained a number of fruitful results. Especially in the resent 2 years (2004-2005) the restoration work has been really warmed up and developed.

Conservation and restoration oil paintings:
The conservation of “Little Thuy” by famous painter Tran Van Can with the sponsorship of ASIALINK which was implemented by an Australia conservator – Ms. Caroline Fry has placed an important milestone for the oil painting conservation work of the Museum. With the whole-hearted instruction of the Australia conservator, the Museum’s experts have carried out the condition checks for oil painting collection and worked out plan for periodical conservation. All the paintings on the exhibition system have been conserved. Recently, via a cooperative project with the Dresden University of Fine Arts, two more oil paintings have been sent to Germany for great conservation together with two staffs who have learn much from the treatment process. This was a considerable advancement and should be progress further.

Conservation and restoration for lacquer paintings:
Lacquer painting is a traditional genre of Vietnamese fine arts and lacquer conservation and restoration is a strength of conservators in Vietnam Fine Arts Museum. Before restoration, the condition check for paintings on display or in the store is implemented . Then, a report and plan of conservation and restoration treatment is worked out and submitted to the Scientific Council for the consideration and approval.

In the recent 2 years, the group of lacquer conservator of the Museum have successfully treated 11 artworks. Almost all these works were in seriously damaged condition, “Hoi mua” (Festival season) by Nguyen Nhu Hoanh is an example.

The whole conservation process is seriously and scientifically followed with detailed information in recorded document and photographs from the beginning till the completion. Thanks to the effort of the Director of Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in mobilizing fund for conservation work, in October 2005, the US Embassy financially sponsored for the treatment of two great lacquer work: “North and South under on roof” by Nguyen Van Ty and “Buddhist festival” by Le Quoc Loc.
 

Conservation and restoration for sculpture:
Most of the Museum’s sculptures are made of plaster. With the time flow, plaster and other component materials get old and loss their stability. Stemmed from the real need, the Museum has had long-term plan for sculpture conservation and material transformation from plaster to other stable media in order to maintain the artistic value of the works and be able to serve exhibitions in the museum or to the out world. By the end of each stage of the process of conservation and material transformation for sculptures, the Scientific Council revises and accepts the result so that the duplication can be best like the original object. Up to now, dozens of sculptures have been conserved and materially transformed like 18 ancient statues and folk wood carving in the communal houses.

Conservation and restoration of silk and paper paintings:
Silk and paper painting accounts for a great quantity in the painting collection. Basing on the result of artwork condition check on the permanent display and in the store, the Museum has formulated a conservation plan. With the guideline of studying in the process of treatment, finding proper method from the actual implementation, the conservators have applied suitable touch to each artwork. In the recent 2 years, the silk and paper conservation group has successfully restored 14 silk paintings, consolidated and duplicated dozens of ancient paper paintings.