Hai Phong strives to elevate the Con Son - Kiet Bac historical site to the status of a World Heritage site.

This investment in the preservation and restoration of the Con Son - Kiet Bac historical site aims to preserve a complex of historical relics of outstanding global value. (Photo: THANH CHUNG)

Preservation of standards

The Con Son - Kiet Bac historical site is a cultural center associated with famous figures such as Tran Hung Dao, Nguyen Trai, and Phap Loa… It needs to be approached and invested in with a focus on preserving its original state, ensuring its sacredness and harmony with the natural landscape.

With that in mind, Hai Phong city has agreed to increase the total investment for the Con Son - Kiet Bac Historical and Cultural Relic Conservation Project from 100 billion VND to over 180 billion VND (of which, 100 billion VND is from the central government budget and 80 billion VND is from the city budget). The project implementation period has been extended to 2026.

Depending on the scale of investment, several points within the historical site will be restored and upgraded to preserve and conserve historical and cultural values. Specifically, at Kiet Bac Temple, the restoration of Vien Lang Mausoleum, Vien Lang Lake (Ngoc Lake), and the renovation of the Kiet Bac Temple guesthouse will be carried out.

The Con Son Pagoda area is undertaking renovations to the Crescent Lake, investing in infrastructure for the parking lot southwest of the lake, and constructing new waiting areas within the parking lot.

The entire technical solution in the Kiet Bac temple area aims to preserve the elevated land behind the mausoleum, connecting it with the Tran Rong mountain area. The renovation and restoration will not only create a harmonious ecological landscape but also maintain the function of the structures or disrupt the traditional layout of this sacred historical site.

The City People's Committee requires all departments to compile historical documents, determine scientific arguments, expand the planning space, and create a foundation for subsequent investment phases aimed at sustainable preservation.

Based on that orientation, the restoration of Vien Lang Lake, Ngoc Lake, and the area connecting to Khanh Lake was identified as a crucial item. The design adjustments not only create a unified landscape but also reinforce the spiritual element, preserving the inherent tranquility and solemnity of the Kiet Bac area. All solutions aim to minimize concrete use and prioritize natural materials.

Promoting the value of world heritage

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Tourists participate in the Con Son - Kiet Bac Autumn Festival.

This investment in the conservation and restoration of the Con Son - Kiet Bac historical site aims to preserve a part of the complex of monuments with outstanding global value, while affirming the city's commitment to preserving heritage according to UNESCO standards.

The project opens up important opportunities to clarify and fully promote those values. The restoration of Vien Lang Lake, Ngoc Lake, the space connecting with Tran Rong Mountain, and the improvement of the landscape around the Kiet Bac Temple complex all aim to restore the original character of the relics, returning the harmony between history and nature, which is the soul of this complex.

The project will also contribute to elevating the Con Son - Kiet Bac historical site into a leading cultural and spiritual tourism center of the country. With the infrastructure completed, the space expanded, and the landscape uniformly improved, the site will be better equipped to host large-scale festivals, experiential activities, research, and cultural promotion, directly contributing to the socio-economic development of the locality.

That significance can only be achieved when the project is implemented in accordance with the direction set by Hai Phong city. The overarching requirement is to adhere strictly to legal regulations on heritage and public investment, respect expert opinions, and ensure that all interventions in the heritage area are based on scientific justification.

Units must proactively seek guidance from the Department of Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, on the procedures for implementing the project according to UNESCO guidelines. This is a key principle to ensure international standards in conservation work. Upon completion, the project will help elevate the image of a Vietnamese heritage site on the world map.

According to the leaders of the Con Son - Kiet Bac Relic Management Board, the greatest significance lies not only in the reconstruction of the structure, but also in building a cultural space, reviving the landscape that has been preserved for centuries, and creating new momentum for traditional education activities.

Con Son - Kiet Bac is not only a spiritual destination but also a place connecting history with the present, tradition with development. In Hai Phong's long-term strategy, the heritage site will continue to receive systematic investment, in-depth preservation, and creative and sustainable development of its value.

Comrade Le Tien Chau, Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Secretary of the City Party Committee, and Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Hai Phong City, once emphasized: The Con Son - Kiet Bac historical and cultural relic site is a special national relic site and, together with the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem complex of relics and scenic spots recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site, has particularly important significance and is a source of pride for Hai Phong City.

Investing in and preserving historical and cultural relics ensures that all requirements are fully met; organizing and developing spiritual tourism linked to history will create resources for continued reinvestment in the relic site, befitting its status as a special national relic and a world cultural heritage site.

As part of a world cultural heritage site, Con Son - Kiet Bac is not only a historical testament to the Tran Dynasty, to Nguyen Trai, and to the tradition of resisting foreign invasion, but also a unique cultural space in the Northeast region, where sacred elements, natural landscapes, and the profound humanistic philosophy of the nation converge.

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