The ceremony was attended by Mai Van Chinh, Member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, along with leaders of central ministries and agencies, representatives of UNESCO in Vietnam, ambassadors, international organizations, local authorities, and a large number of residents and visitors.

The event coincided with the 717th anniversary of the passing into Nirvana of King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong, founder of the Truc Lam Zen Buddhism, lending special cultural and spiritual significance to the occasion.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh emphasised that UNESCO’s inscription of the Yen Tu–Vinh Nghiem–Con Son–Kiep Bac Complex is not only a source of great pride for the Vietnamese people, but also a recognition by the international community of the site’s outstanding historical, cultural, philosophical and spiritual values, shaped, preserved and transmitted over many centuries.

He highlighted that the heritage complex represents a harmonious continuum of tangible and intangible heritage, integrating natural landscapes, architecture, historical legacy and living spiritual practices. Closely associated with the Truc Lam Zen tradition, founded by King Tran Nhan Tong, the site embodies a uniquely Vietnamese form of Buddhism that promotes engagement with society, harmony between spiritual life and worldly affairs, and universal values of peace, tolerance and compassion.

The Deputy Prime Minister also praised the more than 12 years of preparation for the heritage nomination dossier, particularly the inter-provincial coordination model involving Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh and Hai Phong. He noted that this serial heritage approach, applied for the first time in Vietnam, was highly valued by UNESCO. He reaffirmed the Vietnamese Government’s commitment to strictly safeguarding the site’s integrity, authenticity and outstanding universal value, ensuring comprehensive management, balancing conservation with sustainable development, strengthening community participation, and promoting responsible cultural tourism.

Addressing the ceremony, Jonathan Baker, Head of the UNESCO Office in Vietnam, congratulated the Government and people of Vietnam on this important milestone. He described the Yen Tu–Vinh Nghiem–Con Son–Kiep Bac Complex as a powerful testament to the formation and enduring spread of Truc Lam Buddhism, a distinctive Vietnamese Zen tradition that carries universal values of peace, compassion, moral integrity and harmony with nature.

According to the UNESCO representative, the complex is not merely a heritage of the past, but a living heritage, where cultural practices, religious rituals and spiritual life continue to be actively maintained in contemporary society. Its inscription, he noted, is a call for shared responsibility in protecting the site’s outstanding universal value amid challenges such as urbanisation, tourism development and climate change.

UNESCO is ready to continue supporting Vietnam through technical advice, strengthened inter-provincial governance and enhanced community engagement to ensure sustainable heritage management, he said.

On behalf of the three localities, Bui Van Khang, Chairman of the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, stated that UNESCO’s recognition is both a great honour and a profound responsibility for Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh and Hai Phong. He noted that the three localities would fully implement the guidance of the Vietnamese Government and the recommendations of UNESCO and the World Heritage Committee, manage the site in accordance with international conventions and national law, preserve its outstanding universal value, and promote the heritage in a balanced and sustainable manner.

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