Following in the footsteps of the Buddhist Emperor: From Heritage designation to the responsibility of preservation.

Early in the morning on Tung Yen Tu road, a thin mist, like a layer of memories, covered the stone steps. The sound of bells from Hoa Yen mingled with the gentle scent of incense, and the pilgrims slowed their pace. No one mentioned awards or rankings.

Mountains remain mountains, rocks remain rocks. But behind that tranquility lies thirteen years of unwavering dedication from people silently connecting words, maps, and beliefs to guide this heritage through its long journey.

A journey of perseverance

The idea of creating a heritage dossier for Yen Tu and, further, connecting the surrounding clusters of relics into a unified whole, was initiated in 2012. Two years later, Yen Tu appeared in the tentative list of the World Heritage Center. At that time, the vision of the heritage space was still very broad, many criteria were stated, and many relic sites were grouped together.

The pressure to preserve Yen Tu, Vinh Nghiem, and Con Son-Kiep Bac remains, as it limits the number of visitors.

Teams of experts from IUCN and ICOMOS quietly came to Vietnam. They climbed mountains, waded through streams, visited temples, and spoke with temple keepers, administrators, and local people. The survey lasted several weeks, covering about two dozen historical sites, before returning with a detailed report.

“Their blunt comments silenced the local documentation team. The most important thing was to cut out certain details to create a coherent, connected, and persuasive story,” recalled Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh, Vice Chairman of the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee.

From then on, dozens of seminars and academic discussions followed, hundreds of official documents were exchanged between ministries and agencies, including urgent proposals sent to the Prime Minister . The central theme was centered around the Truc Lam style, with Yen Tu as the central point, Quang Ninh province chosen as the "main force," and establishing the extended role of Vinh Nghiem and Con Son-Kiep Bac.

From over 20 initial points, the dossier was streamlined to 12 “key” locations where landscape, history, religion, and community meet to create a continuous narrative.

In early 2024, a substantial dossier was submitted, comprising nearly a thousand pages of main text and a detailed system of appendices: photos, drawings, diagrams, zoning plans, and management plans. The dossier not only explained "why it is worthy," but also outlined "how it will be maintained." Hope was rekindled. Then, unexpectedly, ICOMOS released its assessment report for the 47th session, recommending a "deferral" of consideration and not registration at that session. Everything seemed to come to a standstill.

During those days in Paris in mid-July, the Vietnamese delegation practically lived in the narrow corridors of UNESCO headquarters. Technical teams met continuously to refine the narrative surrounding Truc Lam, removing elements that lacked cohesion, and clarifying remaining concerns about governance and authenticity.

“The turning point came from heritage diplomacy,” Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh recounted. The committee members, represented by India, along with several co-authors, proposed a revised draft decision, changing the opening phrase from “Defers” to “Inscribes.” The dossier then focused more clearly on the core continuity structure, emphasizing the outstanding universal value of the Truc Lam spirit.

Recalling the tense meetings with representatives from member countries, Mr. Nguyen Viet Dung, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Ninh province, is still emotional.

During a meeting with a representative from a Middle Eastern country, after just a few conversations, the delegate broke down in tears, expressing admiration for Vietnam's journey – a peace-loving nation that has steadfastly preserved its identity amidst change.

Rainbow clouds stretch across a strip above the summit of Yen Tu Mountain.

From the UNESCO corridor in Paris, the story returns to the moss-covered stone steps of Yen Tu, the woodblock prints of Vinh Nghiem, the pine forests of Con Son, and the sound of the Luc Dau stream in Kiet Bac. Thirteen years, many times seemingly at a dead end, yet still continuing with perseverance and clear-headedness.

Maintain the flow of conservation.

The title has been awarded, but the question now begins to arise: how can we preserve and promote such a regional entity under the pressures of modern times? Preservation is not just about erecting fences and putting up signs. Preservation is about treating time with due respect.

“At Yen Tu, the old stone steps need to be respected as a film reel of the footsteps of generations. The restoration of the path to the temple should prioritize traditional materials, structure, and landscape, limiting leveling and carving that would cause the mountain to lose its ‘breath’.”

"Forests are the lungs of heritage, and systems for monitoring forest fires, erosion, and seasonal tourism must become a permanent process, linked to the livelihoods of local communities," said Mr. Pham Ngoc Thuc, 88 years old, who has spent many years researching Quang Ninh culture.

Not only at Yen Tu, but also at Vinh Nghiem, Bo Da, Con Son-Kiep Bac, and other sites within the complex that have been recognized as heritage sites, careful and systematic conservation planning is necessary. Of the nearly 1,000 pages in the dossier submitted to UNESCO, over 30% is dedicated to the direction of conservation and promotion of the site's value after recognition.

With a system of over 3,000 woodblock prints in its "wooden archive," there will be a systematic preservation and digitization program. Because every knife mark, every worn edge of the board, represents a layer of knowledge. Digitization is not meant to replace experience, but to preserve and disseminate it.

Historical reenactment activities always adhere to source materials, enhancing academic depth. The system of archaeological sites within the interconnected spatial framework from Con Son-Kiep Bac to Kinh Chu Cave and Yen Giang stake field shares a common, consistent explanatory language.

Con Son Pagoda stands peacefully amidst a lush green pine forest.

“Tourism growth is real, but cultural benefits are what last. A paved road might make a photo look better, but if you erase the ancient stone steps, you erase a part of the memory. A bustling service area might be lively for a season, but if you drown out the sound of the temple bells, you encroach on the lifeblood of the heritage. Knowing when to stop is also a manifestation of civilized preservation,” said Mr. Pham Ngoc Thuc.

In particular, this is an inter-provincial heritage site, and the story doesn't end in one locality. The three parties – Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh, and Hai Phong – need a flexible yet binding coordination mechanism to unify visitor capacity limits, tour routes, signage, stopping points, and standards for restoration materials.

Share open databases on manuscripts, inscriptions, and archaeology. Train tour guides who know how to "tell stories" rather than just "count facts." When each link understands its place in the overall symphony, heritage is not "fragmented," but resonates.

UNESCO is not a finish line. It's a comma that opens the door to the next stage of persistent and anonymous work. Continued research, digitization, training, coordination, forest conservation, stream preservation, and pilgrimage preservation. The name may change today, but the path remains. The only question is whether we are keeping pace with the times. And that is the contemporary responsibility that the World Heritage designation has placed in the hands of each of us.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/theo-dau-chan-phat-hoang-tu-danh-hieu-di-san-den-trach-nhiem-bao-ton-post1778478.tpo