On March 27, 2026, Bac Ninh province held a ceremony to receive UNESCO's certificate of recognition of the Dong Ho folk painting profession in the List of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection. Prominent at the event was the announcement of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac relic and scenic complex as a World Cultural Heritage, and the opening of the "Returning to Heritage Region 2026" Festival. This is an important occasion to promote and strongly spread the unique cultural values of Vietnam to domestic and international friends.
13-year journey to reach world heritage
The Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac complex is the 9th world heritage site and the 2nd inter-provincial heritage site of Vietnam, continuing the success of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago. This chain heritage space has a total area of 525.75ha, surrounded by a buffer zone of 4,380.19ha. The complex includes 12 clusters of relics strictly selected from hundreds of famous landscapes belonging to 6 special national relics. These relics are distributed in 3 provinces Quang Ninh, Bac Giang (now Bac Ninh) and Hai Duong (now Hai Phong City), spanning the majestic Yen Tu mountain range.
To achieve recognition from UNESCO, localities have gone through a persistent journey lasting 13 years. Specialized agencies have built a massive scientific file with thousands of pages of documents, organized hundreds of conferences and academic seminars from domestic to international scale. This effort aims to demonstrate the unique historical, cultural and religious values, associated with the complex terrain of the hilly, riverine system stretching out.
On July 12, 2025, at the 47th session, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee officially recognized this complex as a World Cultural Heritage. After that, Quang Ninh province organized a ceremony to announce outstanding global values on August 17, 2025 and officially received the Certificate of Inscription on December 20, 2025. The event on March 27, 2026 organized by Bac Ninh province continues to extend the series of activities honoring this determined journey.
Global outstanding values and sustainable vitality
According to experts, the global value of the complex lies in the organic connection between three factors: natural landscape, religious belief and political strength. The relic system fully reflects the process from enlightenment in Yen Tu, spreading through Vinh Nghiem to the revival in Con Son - Kiep Bac of the Zen sect founded by Buddha Emperor Tran Nhan Tong in the 13th century.
Truc Lam Buddhism not only consolidates national strength, ensures regional peace but also reaches out to the world. According to heritage records, there are currently about 30 million followers, 50,000 monks and nuns and more than 15,000 Truc Lam pagodas operating in more than 30 countries. At the same time, the understanding and respect for nature of ancient Vietnamese people in Yen Tu has also become a typical example of harmonious interaction between humans and the environment.
In the series of honoring events, the organizers plan to carry out pilgrimage activities to the ancestral land of Vinh Nghiem. The ceremony will recreate traditional rituals such as offering incense to commemorate Truc Lam Tam To, procession of Buddha, procession of ancestors and praying for national peace and prosperity. Over hundreds of years, the spirit of these festivals and religious practices still retains its core meaning. The spiritual philosophy that promotes self-awareness, compassion and a lifestyle in harmony with nature continues to affirm the strong vitality in the minds of Vietnamese people.
