A delegation of experts from the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) is currently conducting a field appraisal of the Yen Tu Relics and Scenic Site in Quang Ninh province, the Con Son and Kiep Bac sites in Hai Duong, and Vinh Nghiem pagoda in Bac Giang. This field trip is a crucial step in completing the dossier to nominate the Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son-Kiep Bac Scenic Landscape Complex as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bronze pagoda is part of the Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son-Kiep Bac Relic Complex (Photo: daidoanket.vn)
The ICOMOS experts began their field surveys at Con Son and Kiep Bac and Vinh Nghiem on Aug 12. Last week, the team visited the Yen Tu Relics and Scenic Site. The appraisal is an essential phase before UNESCO's official review to decide whether to recognize the Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son-Kiep Bac complex as a Cultural Heritage of Humanity during its 47th session next year.
The ICOMOS team visited 14 sites within the Yen Tu Relics and Scenic Site to evaluate the integrity, authenticity, protection, management, conservation, restoration, and promotion of the nominated heritage.
Tran Van Tan, former Director of the Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources and a member of the working group, said: "Among the 50 experts reviewing the dossier, only one conducted a field survey. The field expert will carefully consider the management, zoning, conservation, and restoration efforts that have been implemented."
Nguyen Thi Hanh, Vice Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province said the complex includes six special national relics in Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, and Bac Giang province.
Quang Ninh has three of these relics - the Yen Tu Relics and Scenic Site, the Tran Dynasty Relic Site, and the Bach Dang Victory Relic Site.
Hanh said: "On August 5, UNESCO sent an Indian expert to conduct a field evaluation at the Yen Tu Relics and Scenic Site. I really hope that, after more than four years of persistent efforts by Quang Ninh province, experts, and scientists, the Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son-Kiep Bac relic complex will be recognized as a Cultural Heritage of Humanity."
The Prime Minister has tasked Quang Ninh province to lead the preparation of the dossier in collaboration with Hai Duong and Bac Giang. The dossier has involved extensive contributions from a large team of experts, both domestic and international, who have been researching and working on this project for many years.
This is an unprecedented heritage dossier in Vietnam, as the research and preparation spans three provinces.