Yen Tu scenic spot on the journey to becoming a World Heritage Site

(CLO) The Yen Tu heritage dossier is being urgently completed according to UNESCO's requirements, with the deadline for submitting a report on November 8, 2024, to be officially recognized as the first inter-provincial World Heritage Site in Vietnam.

Accordingly, after 3 years, the Scientific Profile of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac relic and landscape complex (Yen Tu Profile) was submitted to UNESCO at the end of January 2024 for consideration of recognition as a World Heritage Site.

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the advisory body to UNESCO on world heritage, has assessed the dossier and sent a team of experts to conduct a field assessment in Vietnam in August 2024.

On September 26, 2024, ICOMOS requested Vietnam to provide additional information on 11 contents.

Dong Yen Tu Pagoda, Quang Ninh . Photo: Doan Hung

The contents include: map of component relics; attributes of outstanding global value; comparative analysis to highlight the reasons and process of selecting 20 component relics in the dossier to affirm that Yen Tu is the birthplace of the Truc Lam Zen sect of Vietnam.

Rationale for delineating the buffer zone boundaries of the 20 constituent sites in relation to their role in relation to the proposed outstanding universal value of the nominated property; further information on environmental impact assessment and heritage impact assessment at the nominated property and buffer zone.

Key threats and conservation; operational management systems and updated and approved management documents; how component sites are prepared for increased visitor numbers.

Future archaeological research plans; funding sources for heritage investment; concepts and plans for monitoring and supervision are mentioned in the dossier.

Explaining 11 contents as requested by ICOMOS, experts from the Institute for Monuments Conservation, Vietnam Archaeological Association, Karst and Geological Heritage Center, Tran Nhan Tong Institute, Institute of Religious Studies... contributed many important opinions, updated information, images, and documents with high persuasiveness.

Some contents will be closely coordinated between localities and consulting units to synthesize and complete the explanatory report on schedule, such as the need to provide more evidence and historical documents to clarify the relationship between tangible and intangible heritage, documentary heritage (woodblocks, steles) to highlight the value and influence of Truc Lam Yen Tu Buddhism on the Tran dynasty and society as well as Vietnamese history.

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/danh-thang-yen-tu-tren-hanh-trinh-tro-thanh-di-san-the-gioi-post317989.html