Oc Eo - Ba The on the Road to World Heritage Site - Part 4: From Maps and Appendices to the Field Assessment

In the evening, the meeting room at the Oc Eo Cultural Relics Management Board remained brightly lit. Large-format maps sat on the table. An English draft with annotations was displayed on the screen. Beside it was a thick stack of appendices, organized into groups of content. Those present spoke little, understanding that a single small error could lead to a chain of major mistakes. In such meetings, heritage ceased to be an abstract concept and manifested itself in a very concrete form: the core zone boundary, the buffer zone boundary, coordinates, map symbols, management regulations, and a system of arguments that had to be sufficiently persuasive.

Under those circumstances, I understand that the journey of Óc Eo - Ba Thê to UNESCO begins with a dossier that must conform to the framework, data, and spirit of the Convention on the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972). Only when the dossier is complete will UNESCO have the basis to proceed to the field assessment phase.

An international team of experts conducts field research at the Oc Eo - Ba The archaeological site. (Photo provided by the Oc Eo Cultural Relics Management Board)

The "exam" of evidence and management.

Dr. Truong Dac Chien, a staff member of the National Museum of History and a member of the team drafting the nomination dossier for the Oc Eo - Ba The archaeological site, said that the dossier submitted to UNESCO was like a "competition dossier," because every content had to answer UNESCO's basic questions: Why is this heritage important to humanity? What criteria does this heritage meet? What attributes create outstanding global value? Is the heritage still intact and authentic? What mechanisms are in place to protect the heritage? Who is responsible for its management? How does the community participate? How is the long-term plan organized?

In the nomination dossier structure, the central element is the outstanding universal value and the nomination criteria. The Oc Eo - Ba The dossier focuses on criteria II and III, along with a system of arguments about cultural exchange and evidence of an early maritime port city civilization. However, UNESCO does not "score" based on verbal descriptions but requires the dossier to be substantiated with evidence, including traces, artifacts, and spatial structures.

Besides the value aspect, the legal boundaries and maps are also crucial. The core and buffer zones must be clearly defined, as this forms the basis for the protection mechanism. Maps are not merely illustrative images but serve as a basis for management and a commitment demonstrated on the ground. Therefore, the documentation must include standardized maps with clear parameters, consistent symbols, and legal validity.

Another crucial element is the management plan. The management plan must outline the coordination mechanisms between different levels, sectors, and the community. The plan must also demonstrate feasibility, including resources, implementation timelines, and methods for controlling potential harm. These aspects must adhere to the UNESCO framework, avoiding unnecessary digressions and lengthy, unfocused narratives.

The progress of the Oc Eo - Ba The dossier is being accelerated through a series of scientific and evaluation activities. According to progress reports, the local authorities will organize an international scientific workshop on July 30, 2025, to consult on outstanding universal values and nomination criteria. Following this, a workshop on September 4, 2025, will focus on providing feedback on the draft dossier and management plan. By November 24, 2025, the third scientific conference in Hanoi will further refine the arguments, terminology, and map system before entering the final draft stage.

The most significant development during this period was the response from the World Heritage Centre following its technical review of the draft dossier. The technical review was a step to refine the content in accordance with the guidelines of the Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (1972), but it did not replace the assessment of the completeness of the officially submitted dossier. UNESCO also reminded the deadline for receiving dossiers of 5 PM GMT on January 30, 2026. UNESCO clarified that the dossier would only be considered submitted when the Secretariat received the paper copy as required. This necessitated precise execution at all stages, as delays could cause the dossier to be postponed to the next cycle.

According to Dr. Truong Dac Chien, the dossier required a very heavy amount of technical work. The drafting team had to review each term, as incorrect terminology could distort the meaning. The drafting team had to standardize timelines, dates, and attribute descriptions, as inaccurate data could reduce reliability. The drafting team had to standardize maps, as maps are the "backbone" of management. The drafting team also had to perfect the English version with high accuracy, as English is the working language of UNESCO and where the consistency of arguments is demonstrated.

The quality of the dossier is the "core" of the UNESCO journey.

During our study tour in Quang Ninh at the end of November 2025, we drew many practical conclusions. First, the dossier must be concise, clear, and adhere strictly to UNESCO guidelines. A lengthy but poorly structured dossier will weaken the argument. Second, the map must be legally accurate, clearly defining boundaries, attributes requiring protection, and control mechanisms. If the map is vague, the field will be prone to disputes and encroachment. Third, community consultation must be substantive. UNESCO highly values the consensus of the people in the heritage area, as the community is the direct protector. When the people do not understand or agree, the management plan will be difficult to sustain. Fourth, the locality must prepare a scenario for welcoming experts for on-site assessment. The scenario should include the survey route, the explanatory system, the method of displaying information, boundary identification, and the coordination mechanism. Many localities that have taken the lead also recommend inviting independent reviewers, preferably international ones, to identify weaknesses in the dossier and prepare explanations.

From the above, a recurring point is that while diplomacy is necessary, the quality of the documentation is the core element. If the documentation lacks evidence, diplomacy is ineffective. If the documentation is solid, lobbying efforts will have a stronger foundation.

Over the past few days, the Oc Eo Cultural Relic Management Board and domestic and international experts have been working diligently to complete several key tasks. The first task is to adjust and finalize the protected areas at key points, as boundaries are the legal basis for preservation. The next task is to strengthen the minimum infrastructure for management and visits, including: reasonable access routes, clear signage, environmental sanitation, and site protection plans. The third task is to improve the quality of exhibitions and artifact preservation, as exhibitions are where the capacity for interpretation and community education is demonstrated. The fourth task is to strengthen community communication, as public consensus is crucial for maintaining integrity and authenticity. “If the application is accepted, a UNESCO field assessment will take place in 2026. Preparations must be started early, as the field assessment evaluates both the site and its management,” said Nguyen Khac Nguyen, Deputy Director of the Oc Eo Cultural Heritage Management Board.

When the experts and staff of the Oc Eo Cultural Heritage Management Board left the meeting room, the map was neatly rolled up. The appendices were arranged in order, the screens were turned off, and the papers were tidied up. These people may be tired, but they cannot afford to be careless, because this is a crucial moment. Conquering UNESCO is a "test" of coordination skills, and that skill is tested by every small detail in the dossier, and then by every specific detail on the ground.

10 things to do before the UNESCO expert survey.

1. Complete and clearly mark the boundaries of the core and buffer zones on the ground.

2. Standardize the system of directional signs and information signs using easily understandable and consistent language.

3. Inspect the main survey sites, ensuring they are clean, safe, and have a protection plan in place.

4. Prepare a well-planned field survey route, including specific timeframes, stops, and explanatory content.

5. Standardize the content of the explanatory document, ensuring correct terminology, accurate data, and consistency with the supporting documents.

6. Improve the quality of exhibits, preserve artifacts, ensure safe conditions, and provide transparent information.

7. Organize community consultations, record opinions, and prepare documentation demonstrating consensus.

8. Establish inter-agency coordination mechanisms for receiving, protecting, and providing information during surveys.

9. Prepare a set of explanatory documents including challenging questions, possible answers, and supporting evidence.

10. Conduct internal drills before the survey, and learn from each scenario that arises.

(To be continued)