The international workshop on the Quality of World Heritage Nomination Dossiers in Southeast Asia was held in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, under the chairmanship of the Philippines National Commission for UNESCO.
An overview of the opening session at the Turismo Intramuros Center, Manila, Philippines
The workshop focused on the development of the Preliminary Assessment report, a new requirement in the World Heritage nomination process. This step aims to ensure the accurate identification of a property's outstanding attributes, as well as a scientifically grounded presentation of its authenticity and integrity. Participants were given the opportunity to present draft contents of their nomination dossiers, exchange ideas, and receive professional feedback from international experts experienced in heritage conservation and nomination dossier preparation. Besides, each country was also requested to select one cultural or natural heritage property from its national Tentative List. The selected site should not be in an advanced stage of nomination dossier preparation, must not have submitted a Preliminary Assessment, and should not be close to completion of the nomination dossier or involved in the Upstream Process.
Delegates from 11 member countries in Southeast Asia attended the workshop. The Vietnamese delegation included representatives from the UNESCO Office in Hanoi, the Department of Cultural Heritage, the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City, and the Vietnam National Museum of History. As the consulting unit responsible for preparing the Summary Report on the Cu Chi Tunnels Historical Site, the Vietnam National Museum of History appointed Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Chat, Deputy Head of the Archaeology Department, to attend this workshop.
Delegates from 11 member countries in the Southeast Asian region at the workshop
The Vietnamese and Laotian delegations at the opening session
The workshop took place from May 20 to May 22, 2025, with the following agenda: Day 1 (May 20, 2025):
Venue: The Turismo Intramuros Center.
Main Activities focused on six keynote presentations by UNESCO experts:
Concepts and principles of World Heritage;
Defining protection: Integrating effective management with site boundaries;
World Heritage nomination – Common challenges and issues;
Developing nomination strategies;
Understanding the Preliminary Assessment process and its distinction from the nomination evaluation procedure;
Case study presentations on preliminary assessments at both international and national levels.
An overview of the second day of the workshop at Hilton Manila.
The Vietnamese and Malaysian delegations at the workshop
Day 2 (May 21, 2025)
Venue: Hilton Manila Hotel
Main Activities:
- Group Discussion: World Heritage in Southeast Asia: Experience and Best Practices.
- Plenary Session 1: Presentation of Preliminary Assessment Results.
- Parallel Sessions: Focused on participants’ readiness and requests for draft Preliminary Assessment forms, divided into two thematic groups: Cultural Heritage and Natural Heritage.
During the session, the Vietnamese delegation presented the draft Preliminary Assessment of the Cu Chi Tunnels Site, which is being prepared as a potential nomination dossier to be submitted to UNESCO for consideration as a World Heritage Site. The draft assessment was reviewed by: Ms. Moe Chiba - Chief of Culture Unit, UNESCO Jakarta, Dr. Kristal Buckley and Dr. Kazuho Nakatani - Cultural Heritage Expert Consultant from CALAHE. Following the discussion, all experts recognized the significant potential and strong prospects for the Cu Chi Tunnels Site to be inscribed on the World Heritage List. The experts also provided guidance to Vietnam on refining the criteria for demonstrating Outstanding Universal Value, especially in addressing thematic and chronological gaps within the current World Heritage system, particularly relating to 20th-century heritage.
Mr. Tran Canh Toan from the Department of Cultural Heritage presenting on the Outstanding Universal Value of the Cu Chi Tunnels during the third session.
International experts discussing and providing guidance to the Vietnamese delegation on the plan for preparing the Cu Chi Tunnels heritage nomination dossier.
Day 3 (May 22, 2025): After a field visit to heritage sites such as Intramuros and the Baroque Churches, delegates gathered at San Agustin Church and Monastery Museum to present the Outstanding Universal Value of their proposed World Heritage nominations. The presentations were followed by expert feedback, along with discussions on future research directions and dossier development plans. The Vietnamese delegation emphasized the Cu Chi Tunnels as a site for remembrance, reconciliation, and dialogue among nations, promoting the values of peace and humanity in line with UNESCO’s mission. The presentation received positive respones and support from international experts.
Vietnamese delegates visiting the Baroque church.
It can be said that the International Workshop in Manila provided Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, with a clearer understanding of the new mandatory steps in the World Heritage nomination process. At the same time, it also offered constructive and practical feedback, supporting Vietnam’s efforts to prepare the Cu Chi Tunnels nomination for UNESCO recognition.
Thu Hien