Vietnam documentary heritage gains two UNESCO regional recognitions

Two Vietnamese documentary heritage sites, the Non Nuoc Mountain rock inscriptions in Ninh Binh and the Pho Hien steles in Hung Yen, have been officially inscribed into the UNESCO Memory of the World Register for Asia and the Pacific.

The decision was announced on November 5, 2026, during the 11th plenary meeting of the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP) held in Jakarta, Indonesia. This recognition brings Vietnam’s total number of UNESCO-listed documentary heritage items to 13, consisting of four world heritage items and nine regional heritage items.

The Non Nuoc Mountain inscriptions comprise 43 texts carved directly into rock faces, dating from the 14th to the 20th century. Written in Han, Nom, and Quoc Ngu scripts, these inscriptions include poems, prose, and royal decrees left by monarchs, scholars, and poets. They reflect Vietnam’s history of national defense and the cultural exchange between East Asian philosophies and local beliefs.

The Pho Hien steles consist of 41 stone steles dating from the 17th to the early 20th century. These records provide vital historical evidence regarding the development of Pho Hien, an international commercial port that played a significant role in regional maritime trade networks.