Foreign diplomats explore Con Son – Kiep Bac heritage site
The visit formed part of the “Discover Vietnam Day 2025” programme, jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the People’s Committees of Hai Duong, Quang Ninh, and Bac Giang provinces.
Delegates tour the Con Son relic site in Hai Duong province on May 16. (Photo: VNA)
Hai Duong (VNA)ꦐ – A delegation comprising ambassadors, heads of international organisations, members of the diplomatic corps in Vietnam, and representatives from the UNESCO Office in Hanoi visited the Con Son – Kiep Bac Special National Relic Site in Chi Linh city, northern Hai Duong province, on May 16.
The visit formed part of the “Discover Vietnam Day 2025” programme, jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the People’s Committees of Hai Duong, Quang Ninh, and Bac Giang provinces.
In recent years, the three provinces have worked closely to survey and compile a nomination dossier for the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex, which is now complete. This marks Vietnam’s first UNESCO heritage nomination comprising 20 interconnected sites. Hai Duong contributes five, including Con Son Pagoda, Kiep Bac Temple, Thanh Mai Pagoda, Kinh Chu Cave, and Nham Duong Pagoda.
Con Son and Kiep Bac are among twelve sites featured in the dossier submitted to UNESCO for World Heritage recognition. The sites are noted for their cultural, historical, and scientific significance, and meet core criteria related to integrity and authenticity.
Foreign diplomats offer incense at the Kiep Bac relic site. (Photo: VNA)
Nguyen Minh Hung, Vice Chairman of the Hai Duong provincial People’s Committee, reaffirmed the province’s commitment, alongside Quang Ninh and Bac Giang, to preserving and promoting the heritage values of the complex. He also called for continued support from ambassadors and the UNESCO Office in Hanoi in the ongoing advocacy for the complex's inscription on the World Heritage List.
Launched in 2015, “Discover Vietnam Day” is an annual initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs aimed at strengthening international understanding of Vietnam’s foreign policy, socio-economic progress, and cultural identity.
This year’s programme also includes visits to Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Bac Giang province, home to ancient woodblocks recognised as UNESCO documentary heritage, and Yen Tu Pagoda in Quang Ninh province./.
The Con Son - Kiep Bac relic site in Chi Linh city, Hai Duong province, is viewed as an important cultural and spiritual location in the mind of every Vietnamese. The wealth of tangible and intangible cultural values is expressed through festivals and is why it attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year.
The Ba Chua Xu (Holy Mother of the Realm) Festival at Sam mountain in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang was officially recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity at the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Paraguay on December 4. With this recognition, the festival has become the 16th intangible cultural heritage element of Vietnam recognised by UNESCO.
A collection belonging to composer Hoang Van (1930–2018) has recently been inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. The collection meets several of UNESCO’s key criteria, especially in terms of historical significance and global value. This marks Vietnam’s 11th documentary heritage to be recognised by UNESCO.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
The cultural event in Canberra not only fostered cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Australia but also contributed to promoting Vietnam’s image internationally
