Vietnam has seven natural and cultural world heritages recognised by UNESCO. Preservation and improvement of these heritages is necessary to advertise Vietnam’s image to the world. However, local governments haven’t effectively cooperated to connect these heritages.

The Hoi An ancient town.

The seven world heritages in Vietnam are Hue city ancient capital, Ha Long Bay, Hoi An ancient town, My Son sanctuary, Phong Nha – Ke Bang cave, Hue royal court music and Central Highlands gongs.

The ancient capital of Hue was recognised as the first world cultural heritage of Vietnam 15 years ago. After recognition, all world heritage sites have developed well, said Dr. Dang Van Bai, vice chairman of the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association.

“Firstly, the central and local governments pay more attention to preserving heritages,” Bai analysed. “Secondly, thanks to the recognition, these sites have become attractive destinations, bringing in large quantities of income, which have been re-invested in preserving the values of heritages. The Prime Minister has also approved plans to preserve the sites.”

Professor, Doctor To Ngoc Thanh, chairman of the Vietnam Folk Art Association, said after the recognition, research of Nha nhac or Hue royal court music’s value was conducted more systematically.

Hue royal court music.

Central Highlands provinces have implemented many activities to honour and promote the value of the Central Highlands gong.

Two years ago, Dak Lak province held the Central Highlands Gong Festival, attracting visitors from home and abroad. This November, Gia Lai province will host the first international gong festival.

However, experts say that the best way to maximally promote heritages is through the creation of a network of provinces and cities which host heritages.

Central provinces have joined hands to create the “Heritage Road of the Central Region” in the past five years. Quang Nam province Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s deputy director Ho Tuan cuong said that thanks to this programme, the number of visitors to heritages in the central region rises annually.

Central Highlands gong.

However, director of Quang Binh province Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Hung Phi said that this programme is not highly effective because of the lack of close connection between local governments. They only cooperate to advertise heritages.

Quang Nam’s Ho Tuan Cuong said that it is necessary to have cooperation between central provinces and Central Highlands provinces and it would be even better with additional connections to Hanoi and Quang Ninh. Most importantly, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism should play the role of a “general director” to help provinces and cities that have heritages come together.

“We support the viewpoint of associating localities which have world heritages in Vietnam, and even with those in Laos, Cambodia and Thailand to bring into full play the potentials of Vietnam’s heritages,” said director of Quang Ninh province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Toan.

VietNamNet/TNVN