Another great step for Con Son - Kiep Bac to become world cultural heritage

Yen Tu, Vinh Nghiem, and Con Son - Kiep Bac is a typical relic and landscape complex on the 270 km long Dong Trieu mountain range in the northeast of Vietnam.

The complex comprises hundreds of relics and landscapes within the scope of six national and special national relic sites, including Yen Tu relic and landscape site, Tran Dynasty historical relic site, and Bach Dang Victory historical relic site in Quang Ninh province; Con Son - Kiep Bac special national relic site, Thanh Mai pagoda, and An Phu - Kinh Chu - Nham Duong relic site in Hai Duong province; and Vinh Nghiem and Bo Da pagodas in Tay Yen Tu relic site, Bac Giang province.

After more than seven centuries, these relics and landscapes are still lively and lasting cultural heritage.

Among them, Con Son - Kiep Bac is an amazing area, thus luring may heroes and writers in various historical periods. It is associated with the lives and careers of famous generals and cultural celebrities like King-Monk Tran Nhan Tong, Phap Loa, Huyen Quang, Supreme Commander Tran Hung Dao, Nguyen Trai, Tran Nguyen Dan, etc.

This was not only a major religious center but also an important military defense line guarding the northeast of Thang Long Capital in the past.

Con Son pagoda was a center of Truc Lam Zen in the 13th and 14th centuries, while Kiep Bac temple was built at Van Kiep military base of Supreme Commander Tran Hung Dao and became one of places of worship for him.

Archaeological discoveries have demonstrated the existence and development of a civilization that continuously developed there through many historical periods.

For its great historical, cultural, and scientific values, Con Son - Kiep Bac is an inseparable part of the Yen Tu, Vinh Nghiem, and Con Son - Kiep Bac complex in a dossier seeking UNESCO’s recognition as world cultural heritage.

The three provinces of Quang Ninh, Bac Giang, and Hai Duong have simultaneously researched, proved, summarized, and clarified the value of the complex as well as organized international seminars to determine its outstanding global value.

Archaeological excavations have also been concurrently conducted at many relics in the three localities to further consolidate materials to perfect the dossier.

The submission of the dossier to UNESCO for world cultural heritage recognition is a big step, reflecting tireless efforts of Quang Ninh, Bac Giang, and Hai Duong over the past decade.

TIEN HUY