UNESCOWORLD

HERITAGE SITES IN
SOUTHEAST ASIA

Vietnam
 Complex of Hué Monuments

Established as the capital of unified Viet Nam in 1802, Hué was not only the political
but also the cultural and religious centre under the Nguyen dynasty until 1945. The Perfume
River winds its way through the Capital City, the Imperial City, the Forbidden Purple City and
the Inner City, giving this unique feudal capital a setting of great natural beauty.
Brief Synthesis
The Complex of Hue Monuments is located in and around Hue City in Thua Thien-Hue
Province in the geographical centre of Vietnam and with easy access to the sea. Established
as the capital of unified Vietnam in 1802 CE, Hue was not only the political but also the
cultural and religious centre under the Nguyen Dynasty, the last royal dynasty of
Vietnamese history, from 1802 to 1945 CE.

The plan of the new capital is in accordance with ancient oriental philosophy, and
respected the physical conditions of the site.

The Ngu Binh Mountain (known as the Royal Screen) and the Perfume River, which
runs through the city, give this unique feudal capital an entire setting of great natural beauty
as well defining its symbolic importance. The site was chosen for a combination of natural
features – hills representing a protective screen in front of the monuments or taking the role
of “a blue dragon” to the left and “a white tiger” to the right – which shield the main
entrance and prevent the entry of malevolent spirits. Within this landscape, the main
features of the city are laid out.

The structures of the Complex of Hue Monuments are carefully placed within the
natural setting of the site and aligned cosmologically with the Five Cardinal Points (centre,
west, east, north, south), the Five Elements (earth, metal, wood, water, fire), and the Five
Colours (yellow, white, blue, black, red).

The central structure is the Hue Citadel area which was the administrative centre of
southern Viet Nam during the 17th and 18th centuries CE. Within the Hue Citadel were
located not only administrative and military functions of the Empire, but also the Imperial
Residence, the Hoang Thanh (Imperial City), the Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Purple City) and
related royal palaces.

Tran Binh Dai, an additional defensive work in the north-east corner of the Capital
City, was designed to control movement on the river. Another fortress, Tran Hai Thanh, was
constructed a little later to protect the capital against assault from the sea.
Outside the Capital City there are several associated monuments of importance. In
the outlying areas were located important ritual sites related to the spiritual life of the
dynasty such as the Van Mieu (Temple of Literature), the Dan Nam Giao (Esplanade of
Sacrifice to the Heaven and Earth), the Ho Quyen (Royal Area), the Den Voi Re (Temple of
the Roaring Elephant), and the Chua Thien Mu (Celestial Lady Pagoda). Further upstream,
arranged along the Perfume River were the tombs of the dynasty’s emperors.

The Complex of Hue Monuments is a remarkable example of the planning and

construction of a complete defended capital city in a relatively short period in the early years
of the 19th century CE. The integrity of the town layout and building design make it an
exceptional specimen of late feudal urban planning in East Asia.
Criterion (iv):
The Complex of Hue Monuments is an outstanding example of an eastern feudal
capital.

Integrity
The Complex of Hue Monuments site has suffered from the effects of 3 wars, as well
as modern development and expanding human settlements. Nevertheless, the complex of
monuments within its landscape setting remains sufficiently well preserved as a whole, or
recorded, to demonstrate that the overall integrity of the site has been maintained.

All the key elements of monumental arts, and town planning, that are necessary to
express the value for which the site is inscribed on the World Heritage List are included
within the well-protected boundaries of the property and its buffer zone. However, the
wider landscape setting of the property, its relationship with the natural landscape and the
other temples and tombs along the Perfume River associated with the monuments within
the property, are not included within either boundary.

Authenticity
The authenticity of the Complex of Hue Monuments may be understood through the
unique layout of the design of the site, which became the imperial capital of the Vietnam
Empire in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The basic architectural and landscape features
of the site have been maintained intact since their original construction in the early 19th
century CE.
The natural setting of the Perfume River, within which the citadel, temples and tombs
have been laid out in accordance with geomantic principles, demonstrates the symbolic
meaning, beauty and significance of the site. The original plan within this setting remains
evident. However, some of the attributes that allow the understanding of the wider
relationship with the river are outside the boundary. The overall setting of the town within
its landscape could be compromised by urbanization and development of infrastructure.
 Although some of the structures are now in ruins, and most of the significant existing
monuments have been partially restored, this has been carried out using traditional
techniques and materials, according to international professional standards of conservation
to ensure that the authenticity of the monuments has been maintained.

There continue to be concerns that threats from flooding, insect damage and
inappropriate development within the site could affect its authenticity and the ability of the
site to demonstrate its Outstanding Universal Value.

Ha Long Bay

Ha Long Bay, in the Gulf of Tonkin, includes some 1,600 islands and islets, forming a
spectacular seascape of limestone pillars. Because of their precipitous nature, most of the
islands are uninhabited and unaffected by a human presence. The site's outstanding scenic
beauty is complemented by its great biological interest.

Brief Synthesis
Ha Long Bay, located in the Gulf of Tonkin, within Quang Ninh Province, in the
northeast of Vietnam, is165 km from the capital of Ha Noi. Covering an area of 43,400 ha
and including over 1600 islands and islets, most of which are uninhabitated and unaffected
by humans, it forms a spectacular seascape of limestone pillars and is an ideal model of a
mature Karst landscape developed during a warm and wet tropical climate. The property’s
exceptional scenic beauty is complemented by its great biological interest.

The outstanding value of the property is centered around the drowned limestone
karst landforms, displaying spectacular pillars with a variety of coastal erosional features
such as arches and caves which form a majestic natural scenery. The repeated regression
and transgression of the sea on the limestone karst over geological time has produced a
mature landscape of clusters of conical peaks and isolated towers which were modified by
sea invasion, adding an extra elemant to the process of lateral undercutting of the limstone
towers and islands.

Criterion (vii):
Comprised of a multitude of limestone islands and islets rising from the sea, in a
variety of sizes and shapes and presenting picturesque, unspoiled nature, Ha Long Bay is a
spectacular seascape sculpted by nature. The property retains a high level of naturalness,
and despite its long history of human use, is not seriously degraded. Outstanding features of
the property include the magnificent towering limestone pillars and associated notches,
arches and caves, which are exceptionally well-developed and among the best presented of
their type in the world.
Criterion (viii):
As the most extensive and best known example of marine-invaded tower karst in the
world Ha Long Bay is one of the world’s most important areas of Fengcong (clusters of
conical peaks) and Fenglin (isolated tower features) karst. Abundant lakes, occupying
drowned dolines, are one of the distinctive features of the Fencong karst, with some
appearing to be tidal. Possessing a tremendous diversity of caves and other landforms
derived from the unusual geomorphological process of marine invaded tower karst the
caves are of three main types: remnants of phreatic caves; old karstic foot caves and marine
notch caves. The property also displays the full range of karst formation processes on a very
large scale and over a very long period of geological time, possessing the most complete and
extensive exzample of its type in the world and providing a unique and extensive reservoir
of data for the future understanding of geoclimatic history and the nature of karst processes
in a complex environment.

Integrity
All elements necessary to sufficiently protect the outstanding scenic and geological
values of the Ha Long Bay property are included within the boundaries of the property and
its size and area provide sufficient integrity for the large scale geomorphological processes
to operate unhindered. It benefits from being completely surrounded by a large and
extensive buffer zone with both the size and area providing sufficient integrity for the large
scale geomorphic processes to operate unhindered.

Located within an area of high tourism, marine transport, fisheries and the daily
activities of people living and conducting their business on Ha Long Bay, management of the
area, instituted since inscription of the property, applies strict regulation and control of
activities in an attempt to minimize impacts on the integrity of the property. There is a
continuing challenge to improve the integrity and quality of the environment. The natural
scenic features, geomorphology, landform values and cultural heritage along with key
features such as islands, caves and grottoes remain intact and the property retains a high
level of naturalness despite the long history of human use in the area.