Photo - Siavosh Hosseini/Unsplash
From 27th September to 1st October 2026, a Dialogue on Heritage and Authenticity for the Asia-Pacific region took place in Ha Noi and Ninh Binh (Vietnam). Convened by the Government of Vietnam with the support of the World Heritage Centre and the UNESCO Office in Ha Noi, it brought together around 250 participants from 29 countries, including members of the World Heritage Committee, ICOMOS, UNESCO Category 2 Centres, researchers, representatives of local communities, knowledge holders and youth.
Opened by Vietnam's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Le Hoai Trung, the Dialogue provided a platform for experts and representatives from across the region to reflect on how Heritage and Authenticity is understood, assessed and sustained in different cultural contexts. The Outcome sessions were co-chaired by Professor George Okello Abungu (Kenya) and Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van, Secretary-General of the Viet Nam National Commission for UNESCO.
“I thank Vietnam for hosting a Dialogue that has brought the experience of Asia and the Pacific on safeguarding heritage in their unique cultural context. The perspective from this diverse region will enrich the ongoing global conversation on heritage and authenticity,” said Nayef Al-Fayez, Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO.
The Dialogue was organised in response to the World Heritage Committee's encouragement for regions of the world to contribute to the ongoing reflection on Heritage and Authenticity under the World Heritage Convention. Its main results are emphasised in the Ha Noi Outcome on Heritage and Authenticity, highlighting perspectives from across Asia and the Pacific. The Ha Noi Outcome constitutes the second regional contribution to this reflection, following the Nairobi Outcome developed during the first Dialogue on Heritage and Authenticity held in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2025.
