Participating in the seminar were a representative from Department of Cultural Heritage under Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with managers, professors, doctors and leading researchers from the Research Insitution of Party History, National Institution for Politics of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Association of Science and History, Vietnam Research Institute for Culture and History. The former political prisoners who were detained in the Buon Ma Thuot Penitentiary/ Prison, former leaders of the province through periods, and leaders from departments and agencies of the province also attended int the seminar. The Buon Ma Thuot Penitentiary/ Prison, established during 1930 and 1931, was a place where political prisoners who were mainly from the Central provinces captured. This place has detained many patriotic soldiers and it was a training environment for many generations of revolution, many of whom, later, took important positions of the Party, the State and the Army such as Vo Chi Cong, Phan Dang Luu, Ho Tung Mau, Nguyen Chi Thanh, To Huu, and so on. In the late 1940, the first Party Cell of Dak Lak was created at the Buon Ma Thuot Prison. From these revolutionary nuclears, more revolutionary bases were built, particularly the CADA plantation and some others in the province. Therefore, the Buon Ma Thuot Penitentiary/ Prison was an organic element and a clue of the movement of national liberation, which was a decisive step preparing for the success of the Dak Lak revolution. On July 10th, 1980, the Buon Ma Thuot Penitentiary/ Prison was approved by the Ministry of Culture and Information which is Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism today exceptionally classified as a National Relic of Culture and History. With those meanings, the seminar focused on the following issues. Firstly, unifying the name of the relic as "Buon Ma Thuot penitentiary" or "Buon Ma Thuot Prison". Secondly, collecting opinions of experts, scientists, managers, historical witnesses and revolutionary comrades in order to complete the scientific record of the Buon Ma Thuot Penitentiary/ Prison. Thirdly, asserting role and values of history and culture of the relic Buon Ma Thuot Prison, with the aim of ranking the special national relic so that it will become a red address for education of revolutionary tradition today and tomorrow. Fourly, coordination of branches and localities in promoting values of the Buon Ma Thuot Prison relic in the future; Finally, technical factors related to completion the record of the Buon Ma Thuot Prison relic. At the ending of the seminar, Mr. Nguyen Tuan Ha, Provincial Committee, Vice Chairman of People’s Committee of Dak Lak emphasized that the seminar aimed to listen to viewpoints of the experts, scientists, managers and historical witnesses. Thenceforwward, People’s Committee of Dak Lak prepared scientific record of the relic to submit authorities for recognizating the Buon Ma Thuot Penitentiary/ Prison as a special national relic. At the same time, the province will focus on preserving and restoring it become an outstanding culture site and a red address for education of revolutionary tradition for the generations today and tomorrow, contributing to preserve and promote values of cultural heritage of the nation and developing local tourism.

Assoc. Prof. PhD. Pham Mai Hung - Vice President of Vietnam Science and History Association speaking at the seminar