9 world cultural and natural heritage sites in Vietnam

UNESCO recognized 9 world natural and cultural heritages in Vietnam, including 5 cultural heritages, 3 natural heritages and 1 mixed heritage. Among them, Ha Long – Cat Ba stands out for its natural beauty; Hue and Hoi An are attractive because of their cultural heritage; Trang An combines natural and cultural values.

In addition to the 9 world natural and cultural heritages mentioned above, Vietnam also has many intangible cultural heritages and documentary heritages recognized by UNESCO such as Woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty, Hue Royal Court Music, and pulling rituals. co.
Together with Vietnam! Let’s take a look at 9 world cultural and natural heritage sites in our homeland

1.Ha Long Bay is a world natural heritage recognized twice by UNESCO. In 1994, the bay was recognized as a natural heritage with outstanding global aesthetic value and became the first natural heritage of Vietnam to be honored. In 2020, Ha Long Bay was recognized for the second time as a world natural heritage, but this time according to the standards of geological and geomorphological value.

2.Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Islands
According to the Department of Cultural Heritage, Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba archipelago is recognized by UNESCO for containing many areas of natural beauty, including limestone islands covered with vegetation and sharp peaks of limestone mountains. above sea level with associated karst features such as domes and caves. The breathtaking, untouched scenery of islands covered with vegetation, saltwater lakes, and sharp limestone peaks with steep cliffs rising above the sea is also part of the reason.

“Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba archipelago is considered a geological museum, containing heritage with outstanding global value. This place witnesses typical changes in the Earth’s historical development”

3.Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh province was twice honored by UNESCO. In 2003, Phong Nha – Ke Bang was honored as a heritage site for the first time according to the criteria of exceptional geological and geomorphological value. In July 2015, this place was honored for the second time for two criteria: “being an outstanding example representing ecological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial ecosystems” and “possessing the environment”. Natural habitats are most significant for biodiversity conservation.

4.Trang An Complex was recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural and natural heritage, becoming the first mixed heritage site in Vietnam in 2014. Located in Ninh Binh province, in the south of the Red River Delta , Trang An scenic complex includes 3 main conservation areas: Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Special National Monument; Special National Relics Trang An – Tam Coc – Bich Dong Scenic Area and Hoa Lu Special Use Forest.

The total area of the complex is 4,000 hectares, occupying the entire Trang An limestone massif and surrounded by a buffer zone of 8,000 hectares, consisting mainly of rice fields.

5.The Ho Dynasty Citadel relics in Thanh Hoa were recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage in June 2011.

As the capital of the Ho Dynasty, the citadel was built by Ho Quy Ly in 1397, also known as Tay Do to distinguish it from Dong Do (Thang Long – Hanoi). After building the citadel, Ho Quy Ly moved the capital from Thang Long to Tay Do. However, the Ho Dynasty only existed for 7 years (from 1400).

6.The central relic area of Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Hanoi, was recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage in August 2010. According to Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Committee at that time, Ms. Ngo Thi Thanh Hang, the Imperial Citadel was the successive power center of Vietnam for more than a thousand years of history and was a unique testament to the evolution of the Vietnamese economy. Vietnamese national civilization in the history of development of a Southeast Asian monarchy. The Central Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Hanoi is a place marked by cultural expression values and events of global significance.

The outstanding global values of the heritage site are recognized by three outstanding characteristics: Length of cultural history; The continuity of heritage as a center of power; The layers of relics are rich

7.The ancient town of Hoi An connects to the East Sea through Cua Dai, borders Duy Xuyen and Dien Ban districts, 20 km from Da Nang, and was recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage in 1999. From the 17th century onwards, Hoi An was connected to the East Sea. trade with Da Nang via Co Co River. Currently, this is the most popular tourist attraction in Quang Nam province.

8.The Hue Monuments Complex, built from the early 19th century to the first half of the 20th century, became a world cultural heritage in 1993. The structure stands out with three citadels in order from largest to smallest: Imperial City, Imperial City and Forbidden City.

The Imperial Citadel is an important construction, including a defense area, a ceremony area, a shrine area… placed in the middle of a large natural space. After nearly 2 centuries and witnessing many important historical events of the nation, Ngo Mon gate still exists, considered an excellent ancient architecture.

9.My Son relic site in Duy Phu commune, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province was recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage in 1999. Built by King Bhadravarman in the 4th century and completed at the end of the 13th century, In the early 14th century under the reign of King Che Man, My Son was a complex with more than 70 temples and towers with many architectural and sculptural styles representing each historical period of the Champa kingdom.

Most of the architectural works and sculptures at My Son are influenced by Hinduism. Most of the temples and towers face the east direction of the rising Sun, the abode of the gods; except for a few towers facing west or both east-west directions, expressing the thoughts of the afterlife kings who were deified after death and to show nostalgia for their ancestors, according to the Information Portal. Electronics in Quang Nam province.