International delegation explores Con Son-Kiep Bac Special National Monument

On May 16, a delegation of ambassadors, heads of representative offices and members of the diplomatic corps, international organizations in Vietnam, and the UNESCO Office in Hanoi visited the Con Son-Kiep Bac Special National Monument in Chi Linh city (Hai Duong).

This is an activity in the program "Learning about Vietnam Day 2025" jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the People's Committees of Hai Duong, Quang Ninh and Bac Giang provinces.

Welcoming the delegation, Vice Chairman of Hai Duong Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Minh Hung introduced the potentials, strengths, socio -economic development situation and unique cultural and heritage features of the province.

In 2024, Hai Duong's economic growth rate will reach 10.2%, ranking 6th in the country and 3rd in the Red River Delta; budget revenue will reach over 30,000 billion VND for the first time; economic scale will rank 11th out of 63 nationwide.

Hai Duong currently has 4 special national relic sites and clusters, 826 traditional festivals. In 2024, the provincial tourism industry welcomed and served 2.5 million visitors.

Recently, Hai Duong has coordinated with the two provinces of Quang Ninh and Bac Giang to survey, evaluate, collect documents and data to build a dossier on the relic and scenic complex of Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac.

To date, the nomination dossier has been completed. The nomination dossier of the Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son-Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Landscapes is the first heritage dossier in Vietnam according to a chain of 20 heritage clusters/sites; of which, Hai Duong has 5 sites including Con Son Pagoda, Kiep Bac Temple, Thanh Mai Pagoda (Chi Linh city), Kinh Chu Cave, Nham Duong Pagoda (Kinh Mon town).

Ambassadors, heads of representative offices and members of the diplomatic corps, international organizations in Vietnam, and the UNESCO Office in Hanoi visit Con Son relic site. (Photo: Manh Tu/VNA)

Con Son-Kiep Bac are 2 of 12 component relic sites of the Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son-Kiep Bac Heritage Complex nominated for UNESCO recognition as a World Heritage Site.

The relic site currently preserves many typical values ​​and fully meets the important criteria according to the World Heritage nomination dossier and has sufficient scientific basis to declare its integrity and authenticity.

Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Duong province Nguyen Minh Hung affirmed that, together with Quang Ninh and Bac Giang, Hai Duong has and will continue to join hands to preserve and promote the overall values ​​of cultural, historical, archaeological, biodiversity, geological heritage, and unique landscapes of the Complex, including many heritage values ​​that have the potential to meet UNESCO's criteria for outstanding global value.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Hung hopes that ambassadors and representatives of the UNESCO Office in Hanoi will continue to pay attention, prioritize and support Hai Duong, Bac Giang and Quang Ninh in the process of campaigning and submitting to UNESCO for recognition of the Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son-Kiep Bac Monuments and Landscape Complex as a World Heritage Site.

“Vietnam Learning Day” is an annual event organized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2015 to update the country’s foreign policies and socio-economic achievements; at the same time, promote Vietnamese culture to the Diplomatic Corps and international organizations in Vietnam. The event creates opportunities for international delegates to learn about Vietnam through real cultural experiences.

According to the program plan, in addition to the destination of the Con Son-Kiep Bac Special National Relic Site, the delegation also visited Vinh Nghiem Pagoda (Bac Giang province) - where the Woodblocks archive has been recognized by UNESCO as a Documentary Heritage of the Asia-Pacific region and Yen Tu Pagoda (Quang Ninh province).

These are destinations with deep cultural and historical values; at the same time, they reflect the identity and depth of the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people.

Ambassadors, heads of representative offices and members of the diplomatic corps, international organizations in Vietnam, and the UNESCO Office in Hanoi visit the display of archaeological artifacts at the Kiep Bac relic site. (Photo: Manh Tu/VNA)

The program provides an opportunity for provinces to promote their local landmarks, socio-economic environment, and cultural experiences; at the same time, introduce to the Diplomatic Corps the Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son and Kiep Bac Monuments and Landscape Complex, which is being nominated by Vietnam for UNESCO to be included in the World Heritage List.

The Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son-Kiep Bac complex is not only a natural beauty spot but also a place that marks the formation and development of the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect; reflecting the development of philosophy and thought of the Vietnamese people in the 13th and 14th centuries.

This is also the place where many ancient architectural works of monks, nuns, Buddhists and feudal dynasties of the Ly, Tran, Le and Nguyen dynasties converge; thereby clearly depicting the development of architecture, fine arts and sculpture - the creative artistic talents of the Vietnamese people in ancient times./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/doan-dai-bieu-quoc-te-kham-pha-khu-di-tich-quoc-gia-dac-biet-con-son-kiep-bac-post1038975.vnp