The First Vietnam-ASEAN UNESCO Heritage Festival 2013, which is to commence in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong from December 27-31, will see the participation of guests from ASEAN’s partners.

Those from India, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, will join representatives from ASEAN member countries and the Vietnamese provinces which house UNESCO-recognised heritages in the festival, it was said a meeting in Hanoi on July 12.

An international conference on preservation and sustainable development of UNESCO heritages in Southeast Asia, and performances of UNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritages in Vietnam and other ASEAN countries will be held during the event, among others.

The festival will serve as a forum for Vietnam, regional countries and their partners to share experience in the conservation and promotion of heritage values and help foster closer ties and friendship between the aforementioned countries.

It will, at the same time, introduce untapped landscapes, as well as people, potentials and strengths of the country and the Central Highlands to international friends, said Head of the Department of Culture, External Relations and UNESCO under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Cao Phong.

The event will coincide with the 120th founding anniversary of the province’s Da Lat city and the fifth Da Lat Flower Festival.

On the occasion, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the provincial People’s Committee will announce the Central Highlands - Da Lat National Tourism Year 2014.-VNA