The first inter-provincial world heritage in Vietnam
The response monitoring delegation of the UNESCO World Heritage Center and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) concluded a working trip to Vietnam in mid-March. The international expert delegation conducted a survey in the buffer zone and core area of the Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago World Heritage, studied documents and worked specifically and in detail with relevant authorities, communities, organizations and individuals in the heritage area on the work of preserving and promoting the value of the world heritage. surveyed the work of preserving and promoting the value of heritage, according to information from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Ms. Luba Janikova - representative of the World Heritage Center (WHC) - said that the survey team acknowledged the difficulties and complexities in coordinating the first inter-provincial world heritage management in Vietnam, as well as the challenges in ensuring the balance and harmony between conservation and development, affirming that this is a difficult problem not only for Vietnam but for all heritages in the world in general.
In particular, this is the first inter-provincial heritage in Vietnam. Ha Long Bay was recognized as a world heritage more than 30 years ago, Cat Ba archipelago (along with Ha Long Bay) has just become a world heritage in a short time (1.5 years). Therefore, the process of heritage management and development over the past decades still faces challenges due to the management boundary between Quang Ninh - Hai Phong.
Regarding this issue, Mr. Amran Hamzah - representative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - shared Ms. Luba Janikova's opinions, commenting that the coordination between localities and agencies to preserve and promote the value of the world heritage faces many difficulties and challenges, but assessed this as a good opportunity for Vietnam to demonstrate its international obligations and responsibilities in the process of implementing the World Heritage Convention, including the effective preservation and promotion of the Outstanding values of the Global Values (OUV) of this inter-provincial heritage.
IUCN representatives recommend that Vietnam apply and deploy these tools not only during the planning and implementation process but also after the project is completed to assess the overall impact on heritage.
Projects in the Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago World Heritage Site have all applied the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Experts propose that the locality complete the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to minimize the impact, including for projects outside the buffer zone. At the same time, it is recommended to build an assessment of the tourism burden in the whole region, considering both tangible and invisible factors to find appropriate solutions.
Vietnam's commitment
Receiving the opinions of experts from the Supervisory Team, Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong city, the Department of Cultural Heritage emphasized that Vietnamese localities and authorities always comply with the instructions of the World Heritage Convention; perfect Vietnam's legal system, especially the new Law on Cultural Heritage passed by the National Assembly, and sub-law documents are being drafted and will be issued in the coming time.
Localities affirm that environmental protection work is complied with; especially in wastewater collection and treatment; developing and implementing strategies and plans for sustainable tourism development.
Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong acknowledged the assessments and recommendations of the delegation, affirming that these are important contents, contributing to the completion of the work of preserving and promoting the value of cultural heritage, especially the world heritages recognized by UNESCO in Vietnam, including the World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago.
At the same time, the Deputy Minister suggested that Hai Phong City and Quang Ninh Province continue to closely coordinate and support the Supervisory Delegation in responding to and completing related reports to the World Heritage Center and the International nature Conservation Organization in the coming time.
