The Trang An Tourism Complex in the northern province of Ninh Binhhas great historical and geological value, experts declared at aninternational workshop held in Ninh Binh on July 24.
Through their reports on recent archaeological excavations andgeological research, speakers at the workshop said the site have specialnatural beauty and geological features while featuring heritage thathelps paint a picture of how humans live in ancient times.
The workshop aims to build a scientific file on the historical andgeological value of the site to submit to UNESCO for recognition as amixed natural and cultural heritage site title.
Accordingto Prof Paul Dingwall from the International Union for Conservation ofNature at UNESCO, the important thing is to prove that the distinguishedvalue of site involves its scenery and environment. However, it is alsonecessary to show evidences that the site has experienced a complexprocess of geological development, he added.
Trang An wasthe site of Hoa Lu, the country's capital more than ten centuries ago,which should be mentioned in the file, Dingwall stressed.
Prof Richard Engelhardt from UNESCO's International Council on Monumentsand Sites agreed that the file should mention that early communitiesliving at the site had adapted well to the local environment during themost severe weather conditions.
It is a must to connect all the evidences to build a persuasive file, he said.
Pham Cao Phong, secretary general of the Vietnam National Committee forUNESCO, said the country has no officially recognised heritage site interms of archaeology.
"The Trang An Tourism Complex is the first ever to be submitted to seek a mixed title," he said.
Dubbed "Ha Long Bay on land", the site covers an area of 10,000ha,including the three areas of the Trang An Ecological Site, Tam Coc-BichDong Site and Former Hoa Lu Former Capital Area. The region is scatteredwith karst topography such as limestone mountains, caves and lakes.
The site is home to diverse fauna and flora with 500 kinds of flora, 73kinds of birds, 41 kinds of other animals. Scientists found traces ofearly people dating back 5,000-30,000 years ago in the nearby Boi andTrong caves.
Bui Van Thang, chairman of local People'sCommittee, confirmed that in the near future, the province will focus onpreservation, restoration and effective exploitation of naturalresources for tourism, which is a sustainable way of economicdevelopment.
The scientific file will be completed bySeptember next year 2013 before being submitted to the UN cultural bodytogether with a file on the Cat Ba Archipelago (for the title of NaturalHeritage Site). The final result will be announced in 2014.-VNA
Through their reports on recent archaeological excavations andgeological research, speakers at the workshop said the site have specialnatural beauty and geological features while featuring heritage thathelps paint a picture of how humans live in ancient times.
The workshop aims to build a scientific file on the historical andgeological value of the site to submit to UNESCO for recognition as amixed natural and cultural heritage site title.
Accordingto Prof Paul Dingwall from the International Union for Conservation ofNature at UNESCO, the important thing is to prove that the distinguishedvalue of site involves its scenery and environment. However, it is alsonecessary to show evidences that the site has experienced a complexprocess of geological development, he added.
Trang An wasthe site of Hoa Lu, the country's capital more than ten centuries ago,which should be mentioned in the file, Dingwall stressed.
Prof Richard Engelhardt from UNESCO's International Council on Monumentsand Sites agreed that the file should mention that early communitiesliving at the site had adapted well to the local environment during themost severe weather conditions.
It is a must to connect all the evidences to build a persuasive file, he said.
Pham Cao Phong, secretary general of the Vietnam National Committee forUNESCO, said the country has no officially recognised heritage site interms of archaeology.
"The Trang An Tourism Complex is the first ever to be submitted to seek a mixed title," he said.
Dubbed "Ha Long Bay on land", the site covers an area of 10,000ha,including the three areas of the Trang An Ecological Site, Tam Coc-BichDong Site and Former Hoa Lu Former Capital Area. The region is scatteredwith karst topography such as limestone mountains, caves and lakes.
The site is home to diverse fauna and flora with 500 kinds of flora, 73kinds of birds, 41 kinds of other animals. Scientists found traces ofearly people dating back 5,000-30,000 years ago in the nearby Boi andTrong caves.
Bui Van Thang, chairman of local People'sCommittee, confirmed that in the near future, the province will focus onpreservation, restoration and effective exploitation of naturalresources for tourism, which is a sustainable way of economicdevelopment.
The scientific file will be completed bySeptember next year 2013 before being submitted to the UN cultural bodytogether with a file on the Cat Ba Archipelago (for the title of NaturalHeritage Site). The final result will be announced in 2014.-VNA
