A performance honoring the cultural heritage values of the World Heritage Site complex: Yên Tử–Vĩnh Nghiêm–Côn Sơn–Kiếp Bạc.

BẮC NINH — A grand ceremony was held on March 27 evening in Bắc Ninh province to receive UNESCO’s certificate inscribing the craft of making Đông Hồ folk woodblock printings on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, and officially announce the Yên Tử–Vĩnh Nghiêm–Côn Sơn–Kiếp Bạc Complex of Monuments and Landscapes as a World Cultural Heritage site.

The event also marked the opening of the “Coming to the Bắc Ninh Heritage Land” Festival 2026.

Among attendees were Trần Sỹ Thanh, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of its Inspection Commission; Deputy Prime Minister Mai Văn Chính; representatives of central ministries and agencies; delegates from UNESCO, foreign embassies, the Việt Nam Buddhist Sangha, and a large number of residents and visitors.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Bắc Ninh Provincial People’s Committee Phạm Hoàng Sơn highlighted Bắc Ninh–Kinh Bắc as a land rich in historical depth and cultural heritage. Over centuries, it has nurtured a diverse cultural legacy integral to Việt Nam’s identity. While quan họ (love duet) folk singing symbolises the soul of the region, Đông Hồ folk woodblock printings stands as a unique artistic heritage reflecting Vietnamese creativity and aesthetics.

UN Resident Coordinator in Việt Nam Pauline Tamesis delivers a speech at the ceremony.

The UNESCO inscription of the craft of making Đông Hồ folk woodblock printings not only affirms its historical, cultural, and artistic values but also recognises the enduring efforts of artisans and local communities. It serves as a reminder of the shared international responsibility to safeguard and revitalise endangered heritage amid modern challenges.

The recognition of the Yên Tử–Vĩnh Nghiêm–Côn Sơn–Kiếp Bạc complex marks another milestone. Within this heritage cluster, Bắc Ninh is home to two prominent sites – Vĩnh Nghiêm Pagoda and Bổ Đà Pagoda – both closely associated with the Trúc Lâm Zen sect of the Trần Dynasty, a distinctly Vietnamese Buddhist tradition embodying harmony and engagement with society. The designation opens new opportunities for sustainable conservation and for promoting Bắc Ninh’s cultural image globally.

To effectively implement the province’s action programme on heritage preservation, Bắc Ninh will continue refining support policies for artisans and craft communities, strengthen vocational training and intergenerational transmission, integrate heritage education into schools, and promote systematic inventorying and digitalisation of cultural assets. Efforts will also focus on raising public awareness and diversifying heritage-based products to expand markets and enhance global recognition.

Artists perform quan họ (love duet) folk singing at the ceremony. — Photos baoquangninh.vn

The province reaffirmed its commitment to closely coordinating with neighbouring Quảng Ninh and Hải Phòng to ensure unified management and maintain the integrity and authenticity of the heritage complex, and balance conservation with sustainable tourism development.

At the ceremony, UN Resident Coordinator in Việt Nam Pauline Tamesis presented UNESCO’s certificate of inscription to representatives of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Bắc Ninh authorities.

Congratulating the province, she noted that Kinh Bắc has long been regarded as a cradle of Vietnamese culture, home to rich and diverse heritage preserved through generations. The dual recognition by UNESCO underscores the global significance of these cultural values and highlights the importance of safeguarding and revitalising heritage in contemporary life. She reaffirmed that the United Nations and UNESCO will continue to support Việt Nam’s efforts in heritage preservation, community engagement, and sustainable development. — VNA/VNS