UNESCO Helps Promote World Heritage Sites in Central Vietnam

The UNESCO Hanoi Office will launch a project on “Promoting World Heritage sites in Vietnam’s Central Region” today [May 8], state media reported. The move aims to connect three World Heritage sites in the region namely the Hue Monuments Complex in Hue city, Hoi An ancient town and My Son sanctuary in Quang Nam province, to promote tourism development in the region and produce more benefits for the local communities at the sites. The office will produce flyers, brochures and handbooks in English and Korean to provide tourists with information about various places of interest, such as typical handicraft villages, and the traditional cultures of the destinations. Asiana Airlines from South Korea, which launched a new route in December 2011 linking the Korean capital Seoul with Danang, is supporting the project and has pledged to advertise the three Vietnamese sites for free on its international flights. The carrier will also fund solar energy lighting systems at all three sites, with the system in Hoi An scheduled to be put into operation this year. Vietnam is now home to seven world heritage sites recognized by UNESCO. They are Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha Ke Bang, Hue Complex of Monuments, Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary, Thang Long Imperial Citadel and Ho Dynasty Citadel. (Nhan Dan – The People May 7)