The decision was made on April 10 at the ongoing 221st session of the UNESCO Executive Board getting underway at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.

According to Ambassador Nguyan Thi Van Anh, head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to UNESCO, this is a highly significant decision, as it is customary for the UNESCO General Conference to fully endorse the recommendations made by the Executive Board.

Le Quy Don (1726 – 2026) was an extraordinary figure in 18th-century Vietnamese cultural history, known for his remarkable achievements and contributions in philosophy, politics, culture, education, and various scientific fields. Over the course of his more than 32-year career as a mandarin, during which he held 20 different official positions, he was recognized as a virtuous and incorruptible official, deeply committed to the national interest and concerned about the hardships faced by the poor.

Thanks to his intelligence and profound knowledge, he left behind approximately 40 works that encompassed almost all contemporary branches of knowledge, including history, geography, poetry, as well as research papers, interpretations, commentaries, and lectures on classical texts and scriptures, along with many poems written in the vernacular Nom script.

His legacy holds significance not only within Vietnam but also globally. Most of his valuable works, written in classical Chinese, have served as primary references for various regional studies across East Asia. These works, along with numerous scholarly articles, have been translated into multiple languages, helping to spread the cultural value and intellectual heritage of the scholar worldwide.

Also on April 10, the documentary collection of music composer Hoang Van (1930–2018) was inscribed by UNESCO as a Memory of the World. As one of the most prominent composers in the history of contemporary Vietnamese music, Hoang Van left behind a collection of more than 700 musical works composed between 1951 and 2010.

Distinguished by its diverse materials, forms, and genres, Hoang Van’s compositions reflect his deep connection to the cultural and social history of Vietnam, particularly the lives of women and marginalized communities.

The collection offers valuable insights for scholars studying the development of Vietnamese culture and music in the post-colonial context, as well as a deeper understanding of cultural exchange within the socialist bloc. It also exemplifies the symbiosis between European and Asian musical traditions, highlighting the significance of the interplay between Eastern and Western musical styles.

According to Ambassador Anh, the collection’s rich diversity in genre and form, combined with its profound content, has met many of UNESCO’s key criteria, especially those related to historical significance and global value.

Vietnam affirms positive role and responsibility at UNESCO

VOV.VN - Vietnam has been affirming its positive role and responsibility at UNESCO through various specific activities, aiming to promote the organisation’s goals in education, culture, science, and the protection of world cultural heritage, said Deputy Foreign Minister Ngo Le Van.