World Heritage - resources for self-reliance, humanity and innovation

As a member of UNESCO since 1976, officially ratifying the 1972 Convention since October 19, 1987, over the past 35 years, Vietnam has been assessed by the international community as a responsible and prestigious member, always implementing the provisions of the Convention well. Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said that the 1972 Convention is like a "cornerstone", laying a solid foundation for heritage protection; it is the only international convention combining the protection of cultural heritage and natural heritage, having a profound influence, being studied and applied by member countries in the protection and management of world heritage. Minister Nguyen Van Hung emphasized: "The organization of the Celebration with the theme "50 years to come: World Heritage - a resource for self-reliance, humanity and innovation, creativity", demonstrates the most active companionship of Vietnam's responsibility with the international community".

Entering the 2021-2025 period, cooperation between Vietnam and UNESCO continues to be strengthened through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance management capacity and strengthen the network of world heritage sites, ensuring relevance and continued contribution to national development strategies, as well as local development strategies.

After 35 years of participating in the 1972 Convention, the work of building and implementing management plans, planning, investment, and financial support at world heritage sites in Vietnam has always been of interest to the National Assembly, the Government, ministries, branches, and localities. World heritage sites in Vietnam are restored, rehabilitated, and prevented from degradation, while at the same time, preserving outstanding global values, authenticity, and integrity in a sustainable manner; resources to protect world heritage sites are prioritized and mobilized to the maximum; local communities directly benefit from tourism and service activities at world heritage sites.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and localities are focusing on implementing the global goal of strengthening the protection and ensuring the safety of world cultural and natural heritages and intangible cultural heritages listed by UNESCO in the "National Action Plan for the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development", towards the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and UNESCO's policy on integrating sustainable development perspectives into the processes of the World Heritage Convention.

World Cultural Heritage Complex of Hue Monuments (honored by UNESCO in 1993). Photo: Vietsensetravel.com

According to UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, over the past 35 years, the partnership between UNESCO and Vietnam has been maintained, developed and constantly moved forward. In the past 5 years alone, UNESCO has provided support for Vietnam's priorities in perfecting the legal framework on heritage as well as the inventory of intangible heritage. Vietnam's competent authorities have fully exploited the potential of the Convention. After 35 years of ratifying the Convention, Vietnam has had 8 heritages listed as world heritage. Each heritage, in its own way, has contributed to expressing Vietnam's long history and the richness and diversity of Vietnamese culture. Ms. Audrey Azoulay also said that in the coming time, countries will face challenges, which is to balance development with the conservation of world cultural and natural heritages.

The Director General of UNESCO assessed that Vietnam is a country with one of the highest economic growth rates in the world in the past 20 years, but it is also a country that has made great efforts to ensure that heritage protection is not sacrificed for development. In today's world, countries need to ensure that efforts to reconcile tourism and sustainable development with nature conservation are carried out at all world heritage sites in Vietnam to preserve the beauty of each heritage site, as well as all world heritage sites around the world.

The second challenge is climate change. According to the latest research by IUCN, one in five world heritage sites is at risk of climate change. Speaking at the ceremony, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay delivered a message affirming: “Heritage conservation is not a luxury. It is a prerequisite to ensure that our world is not further damaged. It is the connection between the past and the future. We must give culture and heritage the importance they deserve. We need to consider cultural policies as a powerful lever for national actions. In Vietnam, the conservation of Trang An World Cultural and Natural Heritage is a model that needs to be promoted and replicated.”

Vu Lam Imperial Palace in Trang An complex (Ninh Binh). Photo: Ninhbinhtravel.net

Not only Trang An, with the implementation of the 1972 Convention on the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, the international community has accompanied Vietnam in preserving and promoting the value of heritages, turning heritages into potentials and strengths for socio-economic development, solving many social security issues, linking the responsibilities and interests of the community with the work of preserving and sustainably developing world cultural and natural heritages.

From the World Cultural Heritage of the Complex of Hue Monuments (recognized by UNESCO in 1993) to My Son Sanctuary and Hoi An Ancient Town (December 1999), the World Natural Heritage of Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park; Ho Dynasty Citadel, Thang Long Imperial Citadel; to Hue Royal Court Music, Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space, Ca Tru... the world cultural and natural heritages, intangible heritages of humanity... of Vietnam recognized by UNESCO have been and are being supported in terms of material, technical and legal corridors for effective conservation and development.

On the world tourism map, Vietnam is increasingly prominent in the search engines of international tourists. A heritage road stretching from Hanoi - Thanh Hoa - Nghe An - Quang Binh - Thua Thien Hue - Da Nang - Quang Nam is captivating millions of international tourists who love to explore culture, art, cuisine and the wonderful beauty of landscapes, beautiful beaches with blue sea, white sand, and golden sunshine stretching from North to South. That is the motivation for Vietnam to make more efforts in implementing its commitments to UNESCO in preserving, protecting and promoting the potential and value of cultural heritages and natural heritages in the context of increasingly deep integration with the world.

Hue Anh