The governments of Canada and Vietnam have ratified the Heritage Protection Treaty 2026, a landmark bilateral agreement designed to stop the illicit online trade of Cham antiquities. The treaty mandates stricter customs inspections for 8th- to 12th-century Hindu-Buddhist sculptures from central Vietnam and creates a joint digital task force to monitor global auction platforms.
The accord also facilitates the immediate return of 15 Cham sandstone reliefs recently seized by Canadian authorities in Vancouver. This partnership serves as a model for international heritage law, emphasizing the role of destination countries in curbing the demand for looted cultural property from Southeast Asia.