Ceremony to announce Vietnam's first chain heritage recognized by UNESCO

Quang Ninh held a press conference to announce Yen Tu, Vinh Nghiem, Con Son - Kiep Bac as World Cultural Heritage.

Accordingly, on July 12, 2025, at the 47th session, the World Heritage Committee passed Decision No. 47 COM 8B.22, listing the Complex of Monuments and Landscapes of Yen Tu, Vinh Nghiem, Con Son-Kiep Bac as a World Cultural Heritage. This is a chain heritage and the second inter-provincial heritage among the 9 World Heritages of Vietnam, affirming the unique value and global stature of Truc Lam Buddhism originating from the Yen Tu mountain range. The event is the pride of three localities: Quang Ninh province, Bac Ninh province (after merging with Bac Giang ) and Hai Phong city (after merging with Hai Duong province).

Yen Tu is considered the birthplace of the Truc Lam Zen sect associated with Buddhist Emperor Tran Nhan Tong.

The nomination dossier was prepared over a long, persistent journey, with close coordination between central ministries and branches, the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, domestic and foreign experts and three localities.

Since 2020, when the Prime Minister directed to add the research area to Hai Duong , the parties have overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the vast, rugged terrain to complete the scientific basis for the dossier. The People's Committee of Quang Ninh province plays the role of chair, organizing research, interpretation, collecting documents, determining types and criteria, and assessing quality before submitting to the Prime Minister for permission to send the official dossier to the World Heritage Center on February 1, 2024.

During the completion process, Quang Ninh chaired 8 domestic and international conferences and seminars, the three localities coordinated to organize 11 meetings with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the National Cultural Heritage Council and central agencies, and conducted more than 100 internal working sessions between the executive board and relevant departments and branches.

Accepting the recommendations of UNESCO and ICOMOS, Vietnam has sent explanatory and supplementary reports four times in November 2024, February 2025, April 2025 and June 2025, demonstrating a spirit of openness and determination to pursue to the end.

Vinh Nghiem is where the Second Patriarch Phap Loa developed the religious congregation and the system of precepts, and where the Third Patriarch Huyen Quang continued and expanded his educational activities.

The outstanding value of the heritage complex is reflected in the spatial and cultural axis from Yen Tu to Vinh Nghiem and Con Son - Kiep Bac with a system of pagodas, hermitages, pilgrimage routes, steles, and woodblocks that are well preserved, reflecting the stages of formation, institutionalization, revival, and transmission of Truc Lam Buddhism from the 13th century, founded by the Tran kings, especially the Buddhist King Tran Nhan Tong. The Truc Lam tradition combines Mahayana Buddhism with Confucianism, Taoist cosmology, and indigenous beliefs, promoting peace, harmony, and living in harmony with nature. To this day, it remains a vibrant pilgrimage and religious practice space for the domestic and overseas communities.

The complex is inscribed under criteria (iii) and (vi) of the 1972 Convention. According to criterion (iii), the property is an outstanding demonstration of the unique combination of state, religion and community in the formation of Vietnamese national identity, contributing to the consolidation of social cohesion and peace. According to criterion (vi), the property illustrates the far-reaching influence of Truc Lam Buddhism – a integrative religious system – on secular life, contributing to building a strong nation and promoting regional cooperation.

Con Son - Kiep Bac is a place where Zen, religion and royal chivalry intersect.

Being recognized by UNESCO is not only a worthy recognition for the many years of efforts of agencies, localities and communities, but also opens up new opportunities to preserve and promote heritage values in contemporary life, linking cultural and tourism development with sustainable goals.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/le-cong-bo-di-san-dang-chuoi-dau-tien-cua-viet-nam-duoc-unesco-cong-nhan-post1770063.tpo