The two-day field survey on September 30 and October 1 formed part of the event held in Hanoi and Ninh Binh province, which was co-organized by the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the People's Committees of Hanoi and Ninh Binh, the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, and the UNESCO Office in Hanoi.

The survey delegation included Jonathan Wallace Baker, Head of the UNESCO Office in Vietnam, alongside central ministry representatives, leaders, and experts from the World Heritage Centre.

Over 80 delegates directly toured spiritual and architectural sites of the Tam Chuc scenic complex, including Lục Nhạc Lake, Tam Chuc communal house, the Pillar Sutra Garden, and the Phap Chu, Quan The Am, and Tam The halls.

Spanning a planned area of roughly 5,000 hectares, Tam Chuc features a diverse ecosystem of limestone mountains, forests, valleys, wetlands, and vast natural lakes. Notably, the area serves as a habitat for the Delacour's langur, a rare and endemic primate species found exclusively in Vietnam.

Through the survey, delegates exchanged professional insights and consulted scientists on the orientation for building a World Heritage nomination dossier titled "The Van Long - Kim Bang - Tam Chuc Delacour's Langur Eco-Cultural Landscape." This activity helps strengthen coordination among local authorities, the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, and international organizations in heritage preservation.

The Asia-Pacific dialogue follows key discussions from the 2025 conference in Nairobi while operationalizing decisions by the World Heritage Committee to advance regional dialogue. Discussions focused on evaluating heritage authenticity amid changing contexts while preserving core values.

The event holds practical significance as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-UNESCO cooperation in 2026, reaffirming the country’s active role and contributions to global cultural preservation and sustainable development.

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