Vietnam is home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, from cultural treasures like the Thang Long Imperial Citadel and the Ho Dynasty Citadel to natural wonders such as Ha Long Bay and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

Across the country, authorities are working to safeguard these national assets not only through infrastructure and policy but also by empowering communities to participate directly in their preservation and benefit from their value.

Empowering communities as cultural stewards

Nguyen Van Loi, a resident of Ngoc Ha Ward in Hanoi, recalled the honor of performing traditional rites for the new year at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel.

“I had previously served as ceremonial master at the Van Phuc communal house, but to wear royal attire and offer tributes to the kings at Thang Long was a deeply moving experience,” he said.

Since being recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site 15 years ago, the Thang Long-Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center has revived numerous royal court rituals, such as the Spring Ox procession, calendar offering ceremony, full moon lantern festival, ceremonial fan gifting, and guard changing ceremony.

These reenactments, once distant from public life, are now brought closer to the people through community involvement. Participants range from retirees and laborers to youth leaders and designers.

This revival has made Thang Long Citadel a familiar destination for students across Hanoi, with tens of thousands visiting annually for extracurricular learning programs.

Similarly, in Thanh Hoa Province, the Ho Dynasty Citadel - another UNESCO site - is now an educational hub. Dr. Nguyen Ba Linh, Director of the Ho Dynasty Citadel Heritage Center, said the center has worked with local schools to introduce heritage education programs like I Love History, How the Citadel Was Built, and Young Archaeologists, fostering heritage pride among youth.

Vietnam currently boasts five cultural heritage sites: the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the Complex of Hue Monuments, Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary, and the Ho Dynasty Citadel; two natural heritage sites: Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park; and one mixed site: Trang An Landscape Complex.

People-powered preservation in natural heritage areas

Natural heritage sites, however, face unique challenges. Phong Nha-Ke Bang, located in Quang Tri Province, is also home to about 60,000 residents, including ethnic Chut and Bru-Van Kieu communities who rely heavily on natural resources.

To protect the park while supporting local livelihoods, authorities have implemented sustainable forestry programs. In 2024 alone, the park allocated VND 20 billion (around USD 800,000) to fund tree planting, livestock breeding, and forest protection payments to residents.

These initiatives help reduce environmental pressure while creating employment in tourism services such as guiding, food and hospitality, and souvenir sales.

Hoang Van Binh, head of the Bong Lai 2 village farmers’ association in Bo Trach District, proudly shared how local farmers were supported to raise livestock under forest canopies and were contracted to care for and protect the forest. “People’s lives have improved, and they have become the forest’s protectors,” he said.

Partnership and legal reform to protect heritage

All of Vietnam’s UNESCO heritage sites have implemented effective conservation programs, many of which now drive socio-economic growth. For example, the Thang Long Imperial Citadel welcomed 745,000 visitors in 2024.

Hoi An, Trang An, and Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago have become tourism powerhouses for cities like Da Nang, Ninh Binh, Quang Ninh, and Hai Phong.

The 2024 revision of Vietnam’s Law on Cultural Heritage reflects global treaty commitments while addressing local needs. Still, the biggest challenge remains the risk of economic development encroaching on heritage areas.

Ha Long Bay, for instance, has faced damage from overbuilding, and many cultural sites struggle with both deterioration and modernization pressure.

According to Associate Professor Dang Van Bai, Vice Chairman of the National Cultural Heritage Council, empowering communities is key. He called for heritage education in schools, media, and communities to deepen public understanding.

He also noted that while Vietnam promotes private-sector-led economic growth, public-private partnerships in heritage preservation remain underdeveloped.

He suggested piloting governance models such as community management under state guidance, or collaborations between the state, private sector, and local communities.

The Trang An model: A model of public-private-community cooperation

The Trang An Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh stands out as a successful example of such collaboration. With 10,000 direct and 20,000 indirect workers, the site significantly contributes to the province’s economy.

According to Bui Viet Thang, Director of the Trang An Heritage Management Board, the complex operates on a public-private-community model.

Under this approach, the government provides regulation and development orientation; businesses invest in infrastructure and tourism services; local communities run services and protect cultural traditions and the environment; while scholars advise on conservation and management.

This model adheres to principles of preserving heritage integrity, balancing stakeholder interests, financial transparency, community oversight, and responsible tourism.

As a result, visitor numbers skyrocketed from 2.2 million in 2014 to several times higher today, and tourism revenue in 2024 reached VND 6.5 trillion (around USD 260 million).

Trang An not only generates material wealth but also strengthens social cohesion and sustainable livelihoods.

While each heritage site is unique, the success of Trang An’s collaborative model offers valuable lessons that can be replicated elsewhere.

PV