UNESCO inscribes two more centuries-old documentary heritages of Vietnam

The decision was made at the 11th General Meeting of the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP), held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on November 5. The meeting brought together more than 150 delegates from 24 member countries, including Vietnam.

Following three days of deliberations, MOWCAP approved 21 of the 24 nominations submitted for inscription. The two Vietnamese entries were recognised for meeting the criteria of authenticity, integrity, uniqueness and regional significance, as well as having feasible plans for preservation, management and access.

Pho Hien stelae – records of an international trading port

The documentary heritage collection Inscriptions on the stelae of Pho Hien comprises 41 stone inscriptions in classical Chinese (Hán) and Vietnamese Nôm script, dating from the 17th to the 20th century. They are preserved at monuments within the Special National Relic Site of Pho Hien in Hung Yen province.

Safeguarded by local communities over centuries, the inscriptions provide valuable records of the development of Pho Hien, once a prominent international trading port in Asia.

Emerging in the 16th century and reaching its peak in the 17th century, Pho Hien became one of Vietnam’s major cultural and commercial centres, attracting merchants from China, Japan and European countries, including the Netherlands, Portugal and England.

Beyond documenting commercial activities, the inscriptions shed light on cultural and religious exchanges, as well as the integration of foreign communities into Vietnamese society. Notably, nine stelae at Xich Dang Temple of Literature reflect the region’s longstanding tradition of learning. Other inscriptions also record women’s contributions to the spiritual and religious life of the local community.

The collection provides an important documentary source for research into urban history, trade, cultural diplomacy and maritime exchanges across the Asia-Pacific region.

Ma Nhai inscriptions – history carved into stone

The Ma Nhai (stone epitaphs) on Non Nuoc Mountain collection comprises 43 inscriptions carved directly into the mountain’s cliff faces at the Special National Historical and Scenic Relic Site of Non Nuoc Mountain in Ninh Binh Province. They date from the 14th to the 20th century.

Written in classical Chinese, Nôm and the Romanised Vietnamese script (Quốc ngữ), the inscriptions cover various genres, including royal autographs, stele records, poetry, literary works and dedicatory writings. They were composed by kings, mandarins, scholars, cultural figures and poets, then carved into stone by Vietnamese artisans using traditional techniques.

The inscriptions reflect the country’s history of national construction and defence, while providing insights into cultural exchanges and interactions across East Asia. They also document the coexistence and interaction of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and indigenous Vietnamese beliefs.

The collection contributes to research into the history of Vietnamese medieval literature within the broader context of classical Chinese-language literature in East Asia. Some inscriptions also document women’s participation in social and religious activities across different historical periods.

With the addition of the two new entries, Vietnam now has 13 documentary heritage entries under UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme, including four on the International Register and nine on the Asia-Pacific Regional Register.

The recognition contributes to the implementation of Politburo Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW, dated January 7, 2026, on the development of Vietnamese culture. The resolution sets a target of securing UNESCO recognition or inscription for five additional cultural heritage items by 2030 and around eight to ten more by 2045.

Ninh Binh seeks UNESCO recognition of Han-Nom Inscriptions on Non Nuoc Mountain

The Department of Culture and Sports of Ninh Binh province, in collaboration with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Institute of Sino-Nom Studies, on June 4 organised an international scientific conference themed "Han-Nom Inscriptions on Non Nuoc Mountain – Potential Documentary Heritage."