The World Heritage Sites Club in Vietnam held its 2024 annual review meeting
On December 15th, in Ha Long city, the World Heritage Sites Club in Vietnam held a conference to review the activities of the club in 2024.
The conference was attended by Mr. Vishal Sharma, Ambassador and Head of the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO, and Chairman of the 46th World Heritage Committee, along with representatives from the Secretariat of the Vietnam National UNESCO Committee, UNESCO Office in Hanoi, and the Cultural Heritage Department. Leaders from the management centers of the 9 World Heritage sites in Vietnam were also present. The conference was chaired by Mr. Vu Kien Cuong, Director of Ha Long Bay Management Department (World Natural Heritage site of Ha Long Bay) and current Chairman, along with Mr. Nguyen Cong Khiet, Director of the My Son Monument and Tourism Management Board, and Vice Chairman of the Club in 2024.
According to the report by the President of the World Heritage Sites Club, 2024, the management, protection, and promotion of the values of World Heritage Sites by the members of the World Heritage Sites Club in Vietnam continued to receive strong guidance and support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, as well as from other central ministries and departments, the National UNESCO Committee of Vietnam, the Cultural Heritage Department, the National Cultural Heritage Council, and localities where these heritage sites are located. The effective collaboration of the UNESCO Hanoi Office, along with experts, scientists, individuals, and organizations both domestically and internationally, was also instrumental.
The outstanding global values and the natural and cultural resource values of the World Heritage Sites were preserved in their original form and effectively promoted. This not only prevented potential damage but, more importantly, helped in enhancing the value of these sites, contributing positively to the socioeconomic development of the localities and the country. The image of the eight World Heritage Sites in Vietnam continued to be widely promoted through both domestic and international media, making them popular choices for tourists.
In 2024, with Vietnam being a member of the World Heritage Committee for the 2023-2027 term, it effectively supported the management of World Heritage Sites in Vietnam. Additionally, it received increasing support from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, experts from advisory bodies such as ICOMOS, IUCN, ICCROM, and member countries of the World Heritage Committee.
The achievements and results of 2024 will serve as motivation for heritage management agencies to perform better in the preservation of heritage in 2025 and beyond. This creates an opportunity and favorable conditions for the integration of heritage management and protection work in Vietnam into the international community, contributing to raising Vietnam's prestige and position in the field of heritage management. The cooperation and solidarity among the members of the World Heritage Sites Club in Vietnam continue to strengthen.
The report also outlines the Club's plans for 2025, along with specific recommendations and proposals to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the National UNESCO Committee, and the UNESCO Office in Hanoi.
At the conference, the current President of the World Heritage Club, Mr. Vu Kien Cuong, Director of the Ha Long Bay Management Department (a World Natural Heritage site), handed over the rotating presidency of the club for 2025 to Mr. Nguyen Cong Khiet, Director of the My Son Monument and Tourism Management Board.
The World Heritage Club in Vietnam was established on December 4, 2013, and currently has 9 members, representing the management boards and centers of UNESCO-listed cultural and natural heritage sites in Vietnam. The club's activities aim to enhance the effectiveness of heritage management, conservation, and the promotion of heritage values in line with local economic and social development. It also focuses on increasing awareness and promoting the image of Vietnam's World Heritage sites both domestically and internationally, maintaining cooperation, and sharing experiences between the club and relevant institutions in Vietnam, as well as with other World Heritage sites around the world.
Translated by Thuy Ha