Currently, Quang Binh and Khammouane provinces are actively coordinating to complete the nomination dossier to combine the two gardens to become a transnational natural heritage and are expected to submit it to UNESCO by the end of 2024.

Many similarities between the two national parks

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park was recognized by UNESCO as a "World Natural Heritage" twice in 2003 and 2015 with criteria on geology, geomorphology, biodiversity and development of terrestrial ecosystems. This is also the first heritage in Southeast Asia to meet three out of four criteria for a world natural heritage.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang is the largest karst area in the world, with a history of formation over 400 million years ago, with all the main stages of development of the earth's crust. There are more than 1,000 caves here, of which 425 have been surveyed and mapped; there is an extremely diverse and rich flora and fauna (2,953 plant species, 1,394 animal species), with 43 newly discovered species and many rare species indicating the forest ecosystem on limestone mountains.

Across the border, Hin Nam No National Park in Khammouane province has a total area of ​​over 82,000 hectares, is home to 40 species of mammals, over 200 species of birds, 46 species of amphibians and reptiles, over 100 species of fish and over 520 species of plants; and has many beautiful limestone cave systems...

According to scientists from the Institute of Geology under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park are adjacent to each other and are located in the largest limestone block in Southeast Asia.

The study has revealed many globally significant values ​​in terms of geology, geomorphology and biodiversity. In addition, archaeological information collected in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and recent discoveries in Hin Nam No National Park show archaeological similarities, namely the presence of prehistoric inhabitants in both areas.

This discovery also adds evidence for the adaptation of prehistoric residents to the natural environment, thereby contributing to enhancing the value of Phong Nha-Ke Bang and Hin Nam No, highlighting global values ​​to serve the construction of a common scientific profile.

Hin Nam No National Park and Vietnam's Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park are adjacent to each other on the Truong Son mountain range, including relatively intact humid forests with dozens of highly biodiverse conservation areas, said Khamkeo Latthayod, director of Hin Nam No National Park.

The representation of outstanding biodiversity values ​​in the current World Heritage List is limited to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Meanwhile, the transboundary attribute represents the most important and essentially intact limestone ecosystem component in the moist forests of the Truong Son range.

Among the diverse ecosystems and habitats throughout the transboundary area, the dry limestone peaks with their highly endemic flora and fauna stand out. This is also true for the lush evergreen and semi-deciduous forests in the valleys between the limestone ranges in both national parks.

The most obvious are the wild and remote highland forests on sandstone at Hin Nam No and the rare coniferous forests on limestone at Phong Nha-Ke Bang. The transboundary attributes also show that, below the ground, there are cave systems and underground river systems with countless extremely specialized creatures, not found anywhere else in the world.

Mr. Khamkeo Latthayod also said that in recent years, the two countries and the two localities have held many meetings and workshops to strengthen cooperation towards expanding cross-border heritage. That is the annual cooperation agreement signed by the Prime Ministers of the two countries since 2020, building a cross-border management framework for Hin Nam No and Phong Nha-Ke Bang in 2021; establishing focal points for nomination in both countries and defining the tasks of the provincial steering committee, carrying out cross-border forest management work.

With the support of the Government of Vietnam and the support of the World Heritage Committee, in February 2023, the Lao Government submitted a nomination for Hin Nam No National Park as a cross-border extension of Vietnam's Phong Nha-Ke Bang World Natural Heritage.

If approved, this extension will add up to the world’s largest karst protected area. The designation as a transboundary World Heritage Site will provide a platform and impetus for more effective cooperation in the protection, conservation and sustainable use of transboundary ecosystems.

The first transnational heritage of the future

A representative of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO said that the World Heritage Committee supports and welcomes Vietnam's cooperation with Laos in biodiversity conservation, especially in cross-border conservation areas, and jointly nominates the Hin Nam No National Reserve with Vietnam's Phong Nha-Ke Bang World Natural Heritage in the future.

This recommendation is based on the logic of nature conservation and ecological evolution that is not limited to administrative boundaries. Moreover, in the context of the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos, this is an opportunity and hope that there will soon be the first transboundary natural heritage in Asia. UNESCO's goal is to expand cooperation in the conservation and preservation of heritages with many common characteristics. Vietnam and Laos are working together to complete the dossier of the first transnational natural heritage in Southeast Asia and are expected to submit it to UNESCO by the end of this year.

This affirms Vietnam's commitment to UNESCO in preserving and maintaining world natural heritage, and its commitment to support and accompany Laos in nominating and preserving the common assets of humanity, contributing to the sustainable development of the two countries and the region. If recognized as world natural heritage, Phong Nha-Ke Bang and Hin Nam No will become symbols connecting the two peoples of Vietnam and Laos, contributing to further fostering the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Director of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Pham Hong Thai said: "Based on the joint statement on cooperation in cross-border biodiversity conservation between Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park; the minutes of talks signed annually between the leaders of Quang Binh and Khammouane provinces... we have organized many visits and working sessions with the aim of exchanging management information, cooperating in biodiversity conservation, preserving and promoting the potential value of cross-border landscapes between the two regions".

Last July, in Tha Khet town, Khammouane province (Laos), a conference was held to exchange experiences and review the implementation of the memorandum of understanding between Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park. The two sides agreed to revise the content of the nomination dossier for Hin Nam No National Park as a cross-border World Natural Heritage with Phong Nha-Ke Bang.

The two sides are preparing the necessary documents for the two national parks to complete their registration on the IUCN Green List. At the same time, Hin Nam No National Park will also support Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in participating in forums and the process of building a dossier to request UNESCO to recognize it as a world biosphere reserve and global geopark.

Mr. Khamkeo Latthayod said that the combination of Hin Nam No and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Parks into a common transnational, cross-border world natural heritage will increase the area and scale of the outstanding global values ​​of the two national parks, ensuring the unity and integrity of the heritage; at the same time, strengthening the special solidarity and friendship between Laos and Vietnam in the work of protecting, preserving and exploiting an international natural heritage that nature has bestowed upon both countries sharing the Truong Son mountain range.