Journey to 'crowned' World Heritage

To obtain the "crown" of the World Cultural Heritage Complex of Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac, few people know that it was a 13-year journey, with many difficult and challenging stages.

The scenery is like a fairyland atop Dong Pagoda. Photo: Nguyen Quy.

The Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiet Bac Complex of Historical Sites and Scenic Landscapes has been officially recognized as a World Cultural Heritage site by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee at its 47th session. This is a great honor for Vietnam, especially for the three localities possessing the heritage (Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, and Bac Ninh), opening up opportunities to elevate tourism development based on cultural foundations.

As early as 2012, Quang Ninh province began preparing the scientific dossier to submit to UNESCO for recognition of the Yen Tu Complex of Monuments and Scenic Spots as a World Heritage Site, and sent the registration to UNESCO in 2014. The initial dossier was intended to cover the relics in the two provinces of Quang Ninh and Bac Giang (formerly). Later, relics belonging to the former Hai Duong province were added.

In 2015, Pall Dingwall, an expert from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and Professor Hea Un Ri, an expert from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), conducted the first surveys at sites within the heritage area across three localities.

Pine tree-lined road in Yen Tu. Photo by Thu Hoang.

Following this field trip, on August 18, 2015, a workshop to identify the global values ​​of Yen Tu was held in Quang Ninh to solicit early feedback from ICOMOS experts on the process of preparing a World Heritage dossier for the Yen Tu Complex of Monuments and Scenic Spots. The experts all affirmed that it would take at least 5-10 years to complete a dossier, and in some countries even nearly 20 years. This shows that preparing the dossier requires a great deal of determination from all three localities within the heritage area.

To expedite the documentation process, in late August 2020, a national-level seminar, chaired by Quang Ninh province in coordination with the former Hai Duong and Bac Giang provinces, was held in Quang Ninh. Leading experts in the fields of heritage and culture were present to identify the outstanding and globally significant values ​​of the Yen Tu Complex of Historical Sites and Scenic Landscapes.

During the years when the Covid-19 pandemic was unfolding in a complex manner, the three provinces still managed to conduct archaeological excavations at several historical sites in their areas, thereby adding valuable information to the heritage dossier.

After two years of research, from June 20, 2022 to July 3, 2022, international experts, along with Vietnamese experts, worked with the Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the three localities with heritage sites, the Management Boards of historical relics, and conducted field visits to sites within the complex of relics spanning the three provinces at that time. During this period, an international scientific conference was held on June 29, 2022 in Hanoi, with the participation of nearly 70 domestic and international delegates to assess the completeness of existing documents, supplement new research results, agree on the criteria that the nomination dossier should meet; and finalize the proposed heritage area, scope, proposed boundaries, type of heritage to be nominated, and the plan and roadmap for the future.

On July 19, 2022, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism agreed to rename the scientific dossier "Yen Tu Complex of Historical Sites and Scenic Spots" to "Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiet Bac Complex of Historical Sites and Scenic Spots".

The official dossier for the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiet Bac Complex of Monuments and Scenic Spots has been completed and submitted to UNESCO in January 2024 for World Heritage recognition. From the initial 20 sites included in the dossier, international experts recommended adjustments, selecting 12 sites and 2 nomination criteria.

Bodhi Temple's pagoda garden. Photo by Thu Hoang.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh, Vice Chairman of the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee and Head of the Steering Committee for the construction of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiet Bac Complex of Historical Sites and Scenic Landscapes, stated: The success of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiet Bac Complex of Historical Sites and Scenic Landscapes being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List is the result of persistent efforts, high consensus, and close and effective coordination among all levels, sectors, localities, and domestic and international organizations.

In particular, Quang Ninh province was assigned the leading role throughout the research and registration process with UNESCO to include clusters and sites of historical relics in Quang Ninh and Bac Giang provinces (now Bac Ninh province) in the Provisional Nomination List until 2020, with the Prime Minister assigning the addition of relics in Hai Duong province (now Hai Phong city).

“We are well aware that honor and pride always come with responsibility. Quang Ninh will continue to build and implement the Project for the preservation, restoration, and promotion of heritage values, aiming to ensure sustainability and widespread dissemination of heritage values. Along with that, we will strengthen linkages and coordination with Hai Phong and Bac Ninh to build a unified heritage space and implement comprehensive measures to preserve and promote the value of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiet Bac Complex of Monuments and Scenic Spots, a World Cultural Heritage site,” said the Vice Chairman of the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee.

The Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiet Bac complex of historical sites and scenic spots is located in three provinces and cities: Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, and Bac Ninh, comprising 12 historical sites. Of these, Quang Ninh province has 5 sites: Thai Mieu, Lan Pagoda, Hoa Yen Pagoda, Ngoa Van Pagoda, and Yen Giang stake field; Hai Phong city has 5 sites: Con Son Pagoda, Kiet Bac Temple, Thanh Mai Pagoda, Kinh Chu Cave, and Nham Duong Pagoda; and Bac Ninh province has 2 sites: Vinh Nghiem Pagoda and Bo Da Pagoda.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/hanh-trinh-dang-quang-di-san-the-gioi-10310729.html