UNESCO has just added two Vietnamese inscription collections to its Memory of the World Regional Register, bringing the country's recognised items to 13. This recognition gives Vietnam both prestige and new responsibilities for protecting its cultural legacy.

The “Cliff‑based inscriptions on Non Nuoc Mountain” consist of 43 cliffside stone steles dating from the 14th to the 20th centuries. They are written in Chinese characters, the Nom script and modern Vietnamese script. The “Pho Hien Stone Steles” include 41 steles from the 17th to the early 20th centuries, documenting the historic international trading port of Pho Hien.

Prof. Aijarkyn Kojobekova, a member of the MOWCAP Register Subcommittee, said gender equality and women’s role are key criteria in evaluating nominations. She noted that the Pho Hien steles record women’s contributions to community charity, highlighting their economic, social and cultural importance.

Dr. Vu Thi Minh Huong, Vice Chair of the UNESCO Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific, said the two sites must continue studies and roll out conservation and restoration plans in line with cultural heritage law and UNESCO guidance. She added that localities must deliver on nomination commitments, especially through digital transformation, digitisation and diverse public presentation. Dr. Nguyen Viet Cuong, Deputy Director‑General of the Department of Cultural Heritage, explained that the completed Law on Cultural Heritage and its guiding decrees give localities a legal basis and concrete process to prepare and submit UNESCO nominations and to implement preservation measures.

The new UNESCO listings remind Vietnam that international recognition brings both honour and a duty to protect its documentary heritage. Sustainable preservation, digital work and legal compliance will be essential to keep these historic steles for future generations.