Cliff-based Inscriptions on Non Nuoc Mountain in Ninh Binh inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register

At the 11th General Meeting of Asia-Pacific Regional Committee for UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme held from November 2 to 6 in Jakarta, Indonesia, Vietnam submitted two nomination dossiers: the Cliff-based Inscriptions of Non Nuoc Mountain in Ninh Binh province and the Pho Hien Steles in Hung Yen province. A total of 21 nomination dossiers were approved by vote. Both Vietnamese nominations received unanimous support, with 100% of the votes cast by member countries in favour.

The Cliff-based Inscriptions of Non Nuoc Mountain constitute a documentary heritage collection associated with the Non Nuoc Mountain Special National Relic Site. The collection comprises poems, inscriptions, dedications, royal decrees and imperial autographs engraved directly onto rock faces in Chinese characters, Nom script and the Vietnamese Romanised script (Quoc Ngu). Dating from the 14th to the 20th centuries, these inscriptions hold exceptional historical, cultural, linguistic, artistic and scientific value, not only for Vietnam but also for the wider Asia-Pacific region.

Non Nuoc Mountain is also known by several other names, including Duc Thuy, Thuy Son, Son Thuy, Thuy Son, Bang Son and Ho Thanh Son. Located at the confluence of the Van and Day rivers in Hoa Lu ward, Ninh Binh province, the mountain has played an important role in military affairs and inland waterway transportation during various periods of Vietnamese history.

Today, Non Nuoc Mountain preserves 43 stone-inscribed steles. The earliest are Duc Thuy Son Linh Te Thap Kyby Truong Han Sieu and Nhat Ky Thien Long Tu Thuong Tru Tam Bao Vat (author unknown), both carved in 1343. The most recent is Khu Tuy Tam Thanh Tang Tru Tietby Bui Thien Co, carved in 1934. Three other steles bear no recorded era name or carving date.

The extensive collection of inscriptions on Non Nuoc Mountain comprises unique textual works carved directly into rock faces using sophisticated engraving techniques. Its scale, originality and artistic craftsmanship give it outstanding significance in Vietnam and across the Asia-Pacific region.

The contents of the inscriptions reveal the intellectual depth, thoughts and sentiments of Vietnamese kings, national heroes, distinguished historical figures and poets from different periods, including Truong Han Sieu, Pham Su Manh, Le Thanh Tong, Le Hien Tong, Ngo Thi Si and Ngo Thi Nham. They also provide insights into Vietnam's literary traditions, history, cultural life, beliefs and religious practices over several centuries.

The Cliff-based Inscriptions of Non Nuoc Mountain have received high recognition from the MOWCAP and its member countries, having been assessed as fully meeting UNESCO's criteria for regional documentary heritage.

The inscription of the Cliff-based Inscriptions of Non Nuoc Mountain marks the first time a documentary heritage site in Ninh Binh province has been included on the Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register. It also becomes Vietnam's 13th documentary heritage inscription at the global and regional levels under UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme.

This recognition further establishes Ninh Binh as a locality home to a remarkable concentration of UNESCO-recognised heritage values, including the Trang An Landscape Complex, a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site; the Practices Related to the Viet Beliefs in the Mother Goddesses of Three Realms, recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity; the Cliff-based Inscriptions of Non Nuoc Mountain, now inscribed on the Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register; and Xuan Thuy National Park, which lies within the Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve./.