National parks of Vietnam, Laos inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO

Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park was designated as a special national scenic site by the Prime Minister in 2009. On July 3, 2003, during the 27th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the park was first recognized as a world natural heritage site. It received its second recognition on July 3, 2015, during the committee’s 39th session. The park shares a natural border with Laos’ Hin Namno National Park.

The Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park (Photo: Department of Cultural Heritage)

The nomination dossier for Hin Namno National Park to be recognized by UNESCO as an extension of the Phong Nha - Ke Bang world natural heritage site was jointly submitted by the Governments of Laos and Vietnam in February 2024, to be reviewed by the World Heritage Committee at its current session.

After the evaluation process, UNESCO’s advisory body, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), presented a decision to the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee to approve the adjustment of the boundary of the Phong Nha - Ke Bang world natural heritage site (located in Quang Tri province, Vietnam) to include Hin Namno National Park (in Khammouane province, Laos). Following the adjustment, the world natural heritage site is officially named “Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park and Hin Namno National Park.”

Saen Phan village in Hin Namno National Park

The inscription of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park and Hin Namno National Park as the first transboundary World Heritage Site shared by Vietnam and Laos marks a significant milestone in global cooperation, contributing to the promotion of peace and security in line with UNESCO’s vision and further strengthening the friendship and solidarity between the two countries.

Translated by Quynh Oanh