Representatives of embassies of countries on the Asia-Pacific Memory of the World Committee, and Vietnamese and international experts attended the event.
Non Nuoc Mountain in Hoa Lu ward, Ninh Binh province, known as “the Museum of Poetry”, has 43 rock inscriptions which include poems and stories carved into the cliffs by kings, princes, generals, and poets from the 14th to the 20th century.
Dang Thanh Son, Vice Chairman of the Ninh Binh provincial People's Committee, said: "The rock inscriptions on Non Nuoc Mountain are a valuable source of information, possessing multifaceted value as a unique museum of scholarly literature, reflecting the political, cultural, ideological, and social life of different historical periods over nearly seven centuries (from 1343 to the present day). Its enduring value lies in its ability to connect the past with the present, helping future generations better understand the journeys and legacy of their ancestors."
In anticipation of the upcoming session of the Memory of the World Committee, the seminar gave experts and local authorities a chance to examine and promote the great value of this heritage.
The discussions aimed to strengthen the dossier documenting the stone inscriptions on Non Nuoc Mountain to ensure it meets the highest academic standard. Jonathan Baker, UNESCO Representative to Vietnam, said that the inscriptions provided valuable historical evidence, helping to reconstruct networks of intellectual life, and offering insights into the evolution of Sino-Nom literature and education in Vietnam.
He said in this context, Ninh Binh province’s vision for heritage offers a particularly inspiring perspective. As a place for natural landscape, cultural expressions, and living traditions are deeply intertwined, Ninh Binh exemplifies a forward-looking approach.
Efforts to have the Non Nuoc Mountain rock inscriptions recognized on the Asia-Pacific Regional Register of Documentary Heritage demonstrate a desire to preserve and honor this precious heritage of humanity.
