Cu Chi Tunnels proposed for UNESCO World Heritage Site recognition

Update: 13/02/2023
The Ho Chi Minh City administration has recently sent a document to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposing plans to include the Cu Chi Tunnels relic site in the list of UNESCO’s proposed World Heritage records.

Cu Chi Tunnels is an attractive tourist destination for domestic and foreign tourists. (Photo: Domy Kamsyah)

Information on the plans was released on February 9 by Lam Ngo Hoang Anh, chief of office of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports. 

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is scheduled to send the document to the Ministry of National Defense, the National Commission for UNESCO, and the National Council of Cultural Heritage, asking for opinions on a summary report of the scientific dossier of the Cu Chi Tunnels.

The dossier is expected to be submitted to UNESCO in order to introduce the relic site into the list of proposed World Heritage records.

As part of the next phase, Ho Chi Minh City will co-ordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to report to the Prime Minister for permission to work alongside the National Committee of UNESCO to register with the UNESCO World Heritage Center, aiming to put the historical site into the list moving forward.

Cu Chi Tunnels is a network of underground defense tunnels built by locals and resistance forces from 1946 to 1968 in Cu Chi district. 

The tunnels played an important role in major battles, including the Tet Offensive of 1968 and the Great Spring Victory of 1975 over US imperialists.

Source: VOV - english.vov.vn - February 10, 2023