On July 13, at the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee (UN UNESCO) held in Paris (France), UNESCO approved the adjustment of the boundary of the World Natural Heritage Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park (Vietnam) to include Hin Nam No National Park (Laos), with the name: "Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park".
The decision was approved based on three criteria: geology - geology (viii), ecosystem (ix) and biodiversity (x). This is the first cross-border World Heritage Site between Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park was recognized by UNESCO twice, in 2003 and 2015. The expansion of the heritage boundary to Hin Nam No is the result of the process of coordinating research, development and completion of nomination documents since 2018, promoted after the two governments agreed on the policy in early 2023.
At the meeting, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam Hoang Dao Cuong said that the leaders of the two countries' Ministries of Culture of Vietnam and Laos had a friendly discussion to discuss the orientation for better cooperation in managing Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park in the coming time.
"The event of "Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park" becoming the first cross-border World Heritage Site of Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic shows the importance of global cooperation through the nomination of a common heritage, contributing to promoting peace and security according to UNESCO's viewpoint, further strengthening the friendship and solidarity between the two countries", said Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong.
On the Lao side, the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism and Chairman of the Lao National Heritage Committee emphasized that this is a meaningful and proud day for the Lao Government and people.
The Lao People's Democratic Republic Government will continue to cooperate with its partner the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to strengthen cooperation at all levels of society, focusing on enhancing the consultative and inclusive participation of local communities in managing this precious world heritage.
According to Associate Professor, Dr. Le Thi Thu Hien - Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage, the approval of the dossier is the result of the close direction of the leaders of the Party, State, Government and relevant ministries and branches of Vietnam, along with effective coordination with the Lao side.
She emphasized that in the coming time, to effectively manage the Borderary World Heritage between Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the two sides need to continue to promote the implementation of scientific research topics and establish methods of operation.
From there, it is possible to deal with the risks of impact on heritage; assess the tourism load in accordance with the capacity and ecological load of resources in the overall Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park.
Phong Nha - Ke Bang and Hin Nam No are located at the intersection between the Annam Mountains and the Central East Sea limestone Ring Road, one of the most intact limestone Karst landscapes in the world. This area has a history of formation about 400 million years ago and owns more than 220km of caves and underground river systems.
With its special biodiversity and geology, the area is considered a model in cross-border world heritage management, contributing practical experience to the implementation of UNESCO's 1972 Convention on the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage.
To date, Vietnam has had 9 World Heritage Sites, including 2 Inter-provincial Sites (Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba; Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac) and the first Border Sites, Phong Nha - Ke Bang - Hin Nam No.
Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park was ranked by the Prime Minister as a Special National Scenic Landscape Landscape in 2009.
The Hin Nam No National Park dossier nominated by UNESCO to be recognized as an extension of the World Natural Heritage Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park was agreed by the Lao and Vietnamese Governments to be sent to UNESCO in February 2024, to be approved by the World Heritage Committee at this Session.
