UNESCO recognizes the first cross-border World Heritage Site between Vietnam and Laos

Vietnam and Laos have the first Transboundary Heritage Sites including Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park (Vietnam) and Hin Nam No National Park (Laos).

On July 13, at the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee (UNESCO) held in Paris (France), UNESCO approved the adjustment of the boundary of the World Natural Heritage Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park (Vietnam) to include Hin Nam No National Park (Laos), with the name: "Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park".

The decision was approved based on three criteria: geology - geomorphology (viii), ecosystem (ix) and biodiversity (x). This is the first transboundary World Heritage Site between Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

The Vietnamese and Lao delegations discussed the nomination dossier for Hin Nam No National Park and the management of the transboundary World Heritage Site “Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park” in Paris, July 12, 2025. Photo: Provided by the Department of Cultural Heritage

Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park was recognized by UNESCO twice, in 2003 and 2015. The expansion of the heritage boundary to Hin Nam No is the result of a process of coordinating research, building and completing the nomination dossier since 2018, promoted after the two governments agreed on the policy in early 2023.

At the meeting, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam Hoang Dao Cuong said that leaders of the Ministry of Culture of Vietnam and Laos had a friendly discussion to discuss the direction of better cooperation in managing Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park in the coming time.

"The event of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park becoming the first transboundary World Heritage Sites of Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic shows the importance of global cooperation through the nomination of common heritage, contributing to the promotion of peace and security from the perspective of UNESCO, further tightening the friendship and solidarity between the two countries," said Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong.

On the Lao side, the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism and Chairman of the Lao National Heritage Committee emphasized that this is a meaningful and proud day for the Lao Government and people.

Red-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix nemaeus) and its baby at Laboi, Hin Nam No National Park, Lao PDR. Photo: Hin Nam No National Park Management Board

The Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic will continue to work with its counterpart from the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to strengthen cooperation at all levels of society, with a focus on enhancing the consultative and inclusive participation of local communities in the management of this precious world heritage.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Le Thi Thu Hien - Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage, the approval of the dossier is the result of close direction from the leaders of the Party, State, Government and relevant ministries of Vietnam, along with effective coordination with the Lao side.

She emphasized that in the coming time, to properly manage the cross-border World Heritage between Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the two sides need to continue to promote the implementation of scientific research topics and establish operational methods.

From there, it is possible to deal with risks affecting heritage; evaluate tourism capacity in accordance with the capacity and ecological resource capacity in the overall Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park.

Beautiful scenery in Va Cave in Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, Quang Tri. Photo: Ngo Tran Hai An

Phong Nha - Ke Bang and Hin Nam No are located at the intersection of the Annam Mountains and the Central Indochina Limestone Belt, and are one of the most intact karst landscapes in the world. The area dates back some 400 million years and boasts over 220km of caves and underground river systems.

With its exceptional biological and geological diversity, the area is considered a model in transboundary world heritage management, contributing practical experience to the implementation of the 1972 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Cultural and Natural Heritage.

Up to now, Vietnam has had 9 World Heritages, including 2 inter-provincial Heritages (Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba; Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac) and the first inter-border Heritage, Phong Nha - Ke Bang - Hin Nam No.

Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park was ranked as a special national scenic spot by the Prime Minister in 2009.

The dossier of Hin Nam No National Park nominated by UNESCO for recognition as an extension of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park World Natural Heritage was jointly submitted by the Governments of Laos and Vietnam to UNESCO in February 2024, for consideration by the World Heritage Committee at this Session.

Source: https://laodong.vn/van-hoa-giai-tri/unesco-cong-nhan-di-san-the-gioi-lien-bien-gioi-dau-tien-giua-viet-nam-va-lao-1539552.ldo