Journey of Yen Tu, Vinh Nghiem, Con Son, Kiep Bac to become world heritage

VOV.VN - Indian Ambassador to UNESCO Vishal V. Sharma said that Vietnam has convinced the world with the authenticity and vivid values of Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac.

The sound of the hammer and the solemn declaration of Professor Nikolay Nenov (Bulgaria), Chairman of the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee: “On behalf of the entire World Heritage Committee, I officially inscribe this heritage. Congratulations to Vietnam!” made the Vietnamese delegation burst into emotion; ending a long period of preparing documents, editing appendices, explaining values and waiting.

Vietnamese delegates shared: "I feel very moved and proud. This is the result of the efforts and dedication of many generations, including cultural sector officials"; "We have followed the entire voting process and realized that countries have a very high appreciation for Vietnam's heritage. When the Chairman of the session knocked the gavel to officially recognize the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac scenic relic complex as a world heritage, we felt overwhelmed, very happy, very proud".

The journey to put Yen Tu, Vinh Nghiem, Con Son, and Kiep Bac on the list of "World Heritage" began in 2012.

The "journey" for the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac complex to become a world heritage site began in 2012 when Vietnam's dossier was accepted by UNESCO. After many revisions and expansions, the dossier has now been recognized with two outstanding criteria: the ideological value and widespread influence of Truc Lam Buddhism, a pure Vietnamese Zen sect associated with the Buddhist Emperor Tran Nhan Tong.

Professor Nikolay Nenov (Bulgaria), Chairman of the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee, knocked the hammer to inscribe the Yen Tu, Vinh Nghiem, Con Son, and Kiep Bac relic complex into the list of "World Heritage"

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province, said that when the heritage is listed, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong and Bac Ninh need to urgently coordinate closely in the project to preserve and sustainably exploit the heritage: "Quang Ninh province - the locality assigned by the Prime Minister to preside over and coordinate with Hai Phong city and Bac Ninh province to develop the dossier from 2020. I am really touched and proud when the heritage is listed. Immediately after that, Quang Ninh province will continue to preside over with Hai Phong and Bac Ninh, we will build a project to preserve, restore and promote the value of this priceless heritage of our country Vietnam, so that we are worthy of UNESCO's listing".

Vietnamese delegation attends the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee at UNESCO Headquarters, France

Since 2020, more than 100 meetings, hundreds of documents and international seminars have been held with the participation of ministries, central agencies and international experts. This is one of the most elaborate dossiers ever. Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu said that the international community especially appreciates the value of Truc Lam Buddhism with its philosophies of peace , harmony and engagement with the world, which is very consistent with the spirit of UNESCO.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Vu said: “Under the direction of the Party and State leaders, the UNESCO National Commission, together with ministries and branches, has closely coordinated with UNESCO and UNESCO's specialized agencies to ensure that the dossier has met the standards to become a world heritage. The international community, especially experts, highly appreciates the significance and value of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac Heritage, especially the Truc Lam Zen sect founded by Buddhist Emperor Tran Nhan Tong in the 13th century with its values of peace, harmony, reconciliation, and the idea of "entering the world". These are values that are very consistent with the principles, purposes and common values of UNESCO”.

For over 7 centuries, the pilgrimage routes, hermitages, towers, ancient pagodas and each ancient tree have silently preserved the harmonious living philosophy of Truc Lam Buddhism.

At the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, member countries recognized that the core value of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac heritage complex is the harmonious crystallization of cultural, spiritual, philosophical and traditional elements of the Vietnamese people. A stream originates from the sacred peak of Yen Tu through Vinh Nghiem pagoda with priceless woodblocks, continuing at Con Son, Kiep Bac.

Indian Ambassador to UNESCO Vishal V. Sharma said that Vietnam has convinced the world with the authenticity and living value of Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac: “Yen Tu - a sacred site of Truc Lam Buddhism and directly related to the revered King Tran Nhan Tong. That is why it is important to the Vietnamese people and Vietnamese culture. That is also the reason why India has always supported Vietnam, and decided to submit the revised version for recognition. Many questions have been raised regarding the various heritage impact assessment reports, but Vietnam has met all the conditions, and therefore we feel that this recognition is a very correct decision by the World Heritage Committee and India always stands side by side with Vietnam, with the Vietnamese people".

On July 12, 2025, Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac entered a new journey, a journey of human heritage.

From the sacred Yen Tu mountain to the ancient Vinh Nghiem - Con Son and Kiep Bac pagodas echoing the spirit of our ancestors, the journey to becoming a World Heritage Site is not only an honor, but also a strong commitment of Vietnam to international friends. The title just honored by UNESCO is an affirmation of the outstanding global value of the heritage, and at the same time a reminder of the responsibility to preserve, conserve and promote the cultural quintessence left by our ancestors. Each pagoda, each meditation hermitage, each cliff and lifestyle all contain within them a harmonious, worldly, and humane philosophy of the Truc Lam Zen sect.

Vu Mien/VOV-Northeast

Source: https://vov.vn/van-hoa/di-san/hanh-trinh-yen-tu-vinh-nghiem-con-son-kiep-bac-tro-thanh-di-san-cua-nhan-loai-post1214732.vov