Vietnam – active member of UNESCO convention on cultural, natural heritage protection

In the Imperial City of Hue in Thua Thien - Hue province (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has made significant efforts to implement UNESCO Convention for the protection of the world cultural andnatural heritage since its ratification of the treaty on October 19, 1987.

The Convention, adopted by the organisation at its 17th session inParis on November 16, 1972, is the only combining cultural and natural heritageprotection. As many as 194 states have become members of this convention.

Since Vietnam ratified the deal, it has had eight cultural,natural, and mixed heritages inscribed in the world heritage list. In addition,according to UNESCO's Memory of the World programme, Vietnam has seven documentaryheritages at the Asia-Pacific and world level. The nation also houses ninebiosphere reserves of the world.

At the Kon Ha Nung Plateau in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai (Photo: VNA)

The protection and promotion of the sites have greatlycontributed to Vietnam’s local socio-economic development, particularly intourism, serving the people’s practical and sustainable benefits.

According to UNESCO's assessment, Vietnam is an activemember of the pact, which has cooperated with UNESCO to implement many projectsto support localities in protecting and promoting diverse and rich culturalpractices.

For the 2013-2017 period, Vietnam was elected as a member ofthe World Heritage Committee, which consists of representatives from 21 of theStates Parties to the 1972 Convention.

Vietnam also joined UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for theSafeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. In July, the country waselected to the UNESCO Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding ofIntangible Cultural Heritage for 2022-2026 with the highest number of votes.

Vietnam will mark the 50th anniversary of the 1972 Conventionthis year with a September 6 ceremony in the northern province of Ninh Binh, hometo the Trang An Landscape Complex – a mixed cultural and natural heritage siteof the world that earned the recognition in 2014.

At the Trang An Landscape Complex (Photo: VNA)

UNESCO has chosen the theme “World Heritage for Resilience andSustainable Development” for the anniversary amid countries’ efforts to achievethe Sustainable Development Goals and enhancement of their responsiveness toglobal challenges, especially climate change and epidemics./.

VNA