Many heritage sites in Vietnam are at risk of losing their world heritage status.

Heritage conservation and development is a pressing issue in many localities in the process of urbanization. Many heritage sites will soon no longer be able to retain their UNESCO World Heritage status.

That is the warning just announced by Mr. Le Hoai Trung, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the Conference summarizing the work of 2015 and the direction of 2016 held this morning, January 12, 2016, in Hanoi.

Mr. Le Hoai Trung (middle) at the summary conference on the morning of January 12, 2016. Photo: BM

According to Mr. Le Hoai Trung, "heritage preservation and development is a pressing issue in many localities during the urbanization process. Localities are being too proactive in managing and developing heritage. Meanwhile, state management and the implementation of the Heritage Law have not been strict. Many heritages will soon no longer be able to retain the title of world heritage recognized by UNESCO."

"Notably, in 2017, many localities will have to announce the results of implementing commitments when being recognized as cultural heritage. Out of 10 commitments, up to now, in many localities, only 2-3 commitments have begun to be implemented," Mr. Le Hoai Trung added.

As one of the localities that has only fulfilled 2-3 such commitments, a representative of the Ho Dynasty Citadel Management Board, Thanh Hoa said: "The Ho Dynasty Citadel has been recognized as a world heritage since 2011. But so far, only 3/10 commitments with UNESCO are being implemented by Thanh Hoa, the remaining 7 commitments have not been implemented. Every year, the Management Board makes plans and reports to competent authorities on this issue. However, the local budget is difficult, so it has not been able to concentrate all resources to fulfill commitments with UNESCO."

"Heritage has the same meaning and value as the Gold Star Medal. It is very difficult and arduous to be recognized as a world heritage, and losing the heritage title now would be a mistake to our ancestors and to our country. Therefore, one of the most important tasks in 2016 is to coordinate to preserve the heritages that have been recognized by the world in order to preserve and manage these heritages better," Chairman Le Hoai Trung emphasized.

The conference attracted the participation of many experts and managers from ministries, branches and localities. Photo: BM

Regarding the shortcomings in heritage management and conservation, Mr. Nguyen The Hung, Director of the Department of Heritage, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, noted the story: Many localities, after receiving hundreds of billions of VND from the state and support to be recognized as world heritage sites, are now showing signs of wanting to separate the fee collection from heritage management activities to implement socialization. While this is one of the sources of funding for reinvestment and restoration for sustainable heritage development.

Mr. Nguyen The Hung cited a specific example in Hue, where 40% of ticket sales are used to reinvest and restore heritage. However, Hue is only one of the few typical examples of doing a good job in preserving and developing heritage like that.

According to Infonet