Hanoi (VNA) – The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO on July 13 approved the expansion of the world natural heritage site of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam’s Quang Tri province to include Hin Nam No National Park in Laos' Khammouane province.
The decision was made during the 47th session of the committee held in Paris, France.
Following the adjustment, the world natural heritage site is officially named “Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park”.
The joint nomination dossier was submitted by the Governments of Vietnam and Laos to UNESCO in February 2024.
♔ Vietnam is now home to nine world heritage sites. These include two inter-provincial sites – Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago (Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong city), and the Complex of Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac Monuments and Landscapes (Quang Ninh province, Bac Ninh province, and Hai Phong city).
Inside Hung Thong Cave (Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park, Quang Tri province). (Photo: VNA)
The latest recognition is Vietnam’s first transboundary world heritage site. It is expected to serve as a model for the management of cross-border heritage, enabling the country to share practical experience in implementing the 1972 UNESCO Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
🌳 The site also stands as a symbol of the close cultural heritage cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, contributing to the long-standing friendship and solidarity between the two neighbouring countries./.
According to the UK-based travel magazine Wanderlust, Vietnam is among the world’s top destinations for cave explorers and adventure seekers; and leading the way is the breathtaking natural wonder: Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park.
According to Wanderlust, the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park captivates adventure seekers with its majestic cave systems hidden within pristine forests and unspoiled natural landscapes.
A strange species has just been discovered by a cave exploration team of the Jungle Boss Co., Ltd, in Hung Cave within a strictly protected area of the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park in the central province of Quang Binh.
Floodwater levels in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta are high and will continue to rise this month, especially in upstream areas, according to the hydraulic works management and construction department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
Conservation efforts to restore habitat and boost the population of red-crowned cranes in Tram Chim National Park are finally showing progress, with the cranes and many other rare wild birds coming back to the park.
Torrential rains from the night of July 31 to early August 1 triggered flash floods and landslides across several communes in Dien Bien province, leaving at least two people dead and eight others missing.
Transitioning to a circular economy not only offers a sustainable development path for Ho Chi Minh City but also serves as a pivotal step toward establishing a fully green economy.
An exhibition featuring 100 green, recycled, and circular economy models and products from 50 businesses and educational establishments took place in Ho Chi Minh City on July 31, as part of the local green transition forum and recycle day 2025.
Regional solidarity and cooperation are the key factor for the effective implementation of wildlife protection regulations. Only through sustainable cooperation, innovative approaches, and collective action can biodiversity be safeguarded for the present and future generations, an Vietnamese official has said.
Hanoi has approved a comprehensive plan to restore the environmental quality and develop four major urban rivers – the To Lich, Kim Nguu, Lu, and Set reverine environments.
The Javan pangolin is listed in Vietnam’s Red Book as critically endangered and is protected under Group IB – a category reserved for forest species facing an extremely high risk of extinction and requiring strict conservation measures.
As a key member of the core group of 18 countries, initiated by Vanuatu, Vietnam engaged in advocating for the UN General Assembly’s Resolution N.77/276, requesting for the ICJ’s advisory opinion. Following the resolution's adoption, Vietnam fully participated in all procedural steps for the first time, from submitting written proposals to presenting directly at the court’s hearings.
The wild elephant population in Da Nang includes a full developed herb of mature males, females, and calves. To date, the herd has grown to nine individuals.
Conservation efforts here have become a model, helping to save millions of turtle hatchlings and promoting Con Dao as a member of the Indian Ocean-Southeast Asia Turtle Site Network.
As part of its drive to fulfil its net zero emissions commitment by 2050, Vietnam is fast-tracking the development of a legal corridor to launch a pilot carbon market by the end of 2025, according to the Department of Climate Change.
Under the plan, from 2025 to 2026, the city will complete mechanisms and policies to support businesses in switching to green vehicles, expand the electric and green-energy bus network, and build charging stations. The targeted proportion of green buses is set at 10% in 2025 and 20–23% in 2026.
Storm Comay, the fourth in the East Sea this year, was at around 16.7 degrees North and 118.3 degrees East, in the east of the East Sea's northern waters as of 4am on July 24.
The disaster risk warning level for flash floods, landslides, and ground subsidence due to heavy rains and flows is rated at level 1, except in Nghe An, where it is raised to level 2.
