Phong Nha – Ke Bang and Hin Nam No become the first transboundary World Heritage Sites of Vietnam and Laos

On July 13, at the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee (UNESCO) held in Paris (France), UNESCO officially approved the expansion of the boundary of the World Natural Heritage Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park (Vietnam) to include Hin Nam No National Park (Laos).

View from inside Xe Bang Fai cave, Hin Nam No National Park, Laos. Photo: GIZ ProFEB

The heritage site, inscribed under the name "Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park," became the first transboundary World Heritage site of the two countries, Vietnam and Laos, recognized based on three criteria: geology - geomorphology, ecosystem, and biodiversity.

Phong Nha – Ke Bang ( Quang Tri province, Vietnam) and Hin Nam No (Khammouane province, Laos) are among the world's most intact ancient limestone karst areas, located at the intersection of the Annam mountain range and the Central Indochina limestone belt, extending across the Vietnam-Laos border. The karst geological formation process here has been continuous for approximately 400 million years, making it one of the oldest and largest karst regions in Asia.

The Vietnamese delegation attended the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris, France.

The region boasts a rich tropical ecosystem: from dense humid forests and high-altitude dry karst forests to an extensive cave and underground river system spanning over 220km, notably Son Doong Cave (Vietnam) and Xe Bang Fai Cave (Laos) – two of the world's largest caves. The landscape also preserves many unique geological structures, calcite sedimentary lakes, and rare endemic species.

Red-footed langur (Pygathrix nemaeus) and its juvenile at Laboi, Hin Nam No National Park, Laos. Photo: Hin Nam No National Park Management Board

With its outstanding global value, the Phong Nha-Ke Bang and Hin Nam No shared heritage site is a rare symbol of cross-border conservation cooperation, representing some of the most unique tropical limestone ecosystems on the planet. The nomination dossier was jointly prepared by the two countries since 2018 and officially submitted to UNESCO in February 2024.

Previously, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park was recognized twice by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site in 2003 and 2015. This expansion not only acknowledges the comprehensive value of the ancient karst complex, stretching across borders, but also symbolizes international conservation cooperation, contributing to the protection of the planet's most unique tropical limestone ecosystems.

Karst landscape of Hin Nam No National Park, Lao PDR. Photo: Ryan Deboodt

To date, Vietnam has 9 UNESCO-recognized World Heritage sites. Among them, "Phong Nha - Ke Bang and Hin Nam No" is the first transboundary World Heritage site, marking an important step in efforts to protect natural heritage and affirming Vietnam's responsibility to the international community.

MAI AN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/phong-nha-ke-bang-va-hin-nam-no-tro-thanh-di-san-the-gioi-lien-bien-gioi-dau-tien-cua-viet-nam-va-lao-post803624.html