At the heart of the three-day conference is the question of how authenticity should be identified, assessed and safeguarded as heritage sites face changing conservation needs and development pressures. The discussions look beyond the preservation of individual structures to the evidence, cultural layers, traditional knowledge and other attributes that contribute to a site's Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre Lazare Eloundou Assomo thanked the Vietnamese Government for hosting the dialogue.

He said Vietnam has provided an opportunity for hundreds of heritage experts and managers, community representatives, traditional knowledge holders and young people from across the region to meet, listen and exchange views.

The effort, he noted, also reflected the close and effective cooperation between Vietnam and UNESCO in implementing the World Heritage Convention.

A major focus of the opening session was research on Kinh Thien Palace at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel and its contribution to approaches for identifying and classifying authenticity in world heritage practices.

Nguyen Thanh Quang, director of the Thang Long-Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre, presented research on how the proposed reconstruction of the palace has informed approaches to identifying and assessing authenticity in World Heritage practice.

The research places particular emphasis on archaeological remains and cultural layers dating back more than 1,300 years. These traces are regarded as a key attribute contributing to the site’s OUV and therefore form an important basis for determining how authenticity should be understood in the reconstruction project.

The effort, he noted, also reflected the close and effective cooperation between Vietnam and UNESCO in implementing the World Heritage Convention.

A major focus of the opening session was research on Kinh Thien Palace at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel and its contribution to approaches for identifying and classifying authenticity in world heritage practices.

Nguyen Thanh Quang, director of the Thang Long-Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre, said a key element of the palace reconstruction project was preserving and promoting archaeological remains and cultural layers spanning more than 1,300 years.

The centre has proposed using the intrinsic value of archaeological artefacts discovered at the site as a criterion for assessing authenticity. A total of 50 components and details of the palace’s foundations, structure and roof have been assessed using this approach, with the reliability of supporting information carefully evaluated.

Another key outcome of the dialogue is expected to be the development of the Hanoi Outcome Document on Heritage and Authenticity, drawing on discussions and contributions from participating experts, scientists, countries and international organisations.

The document is expected to build on international approaches to authenticity developed from Venice and Nara to Nairobi, while addressing emerging challenges in heritage conservation and strengthening international cooperation in protecting and promoting heritage values in the region and worldwide.

Expanding cultural spaces to turn heritage into development resources

Culture is increasingly viewed not only as a value to be preserved but also as a resource to be harnessed for development.