Sharing Values of Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam and Vietnam’s Cultural Heritage at UNESCO Headquarters

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Representing Vietnam at the event were Ngo Le Van, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO; Trinh Duc Hai, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to France; Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Ambassador and Head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to UNESCO; Le Thi Hong Van, Secretary-General of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO; Anoa Dussol, Vietnam Tourism Ambassador to France; Le Xuan Kieu, Director of the Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities; along with numerous other distinguished guests and delegates.

Representing UNESCO were Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO; Nayef Al-Fayez, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture; Khondker Talha, President of the UNESCO General Conference; and Nasser bin Hamad Hanzab, President of the UNESCO Executive Board.

More than 200 delegates, including Ministers, Heads of Delegation, Ambassadors, and representatives from many UNESCO member countries, attended the event (Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper)

Held on the sidelines of the General Assembly of States Parties to the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the event attracted more than 200 participants, including ministers, heads of delegations attending the Convention’s General Assembly, ambassadors, representatives from over 100 UNESCO member states, and a large number of international guests.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, Ngo Le Van, emphasized that Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam, with its nearly one-thousand-year history, stands as a defining symbol of Vietnam’s civilization. It embodies the nation’s enduring traditions of valuing education, honoring teachers, nurturing talent, and upholding the belief that education, knowledge, and human potential are the foundations of sustainable national development.

Home to 82 Doctoral Stelae inscribed by UNESCO on the Memory of the World Register, Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam has become a cultural icon of Hanoi and Vietnam, bearing witness to a millennium-long tradition of reverence for learning, education, and talent.

Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO, Nayef Al-Fayez, highly appreciated the value of Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam as a symbol of Vietnam’s tradition of valuing knowledge and education. (Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper)

Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van noted that, alongside Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, serves as a model of successful cooperation between Vietnam and UNESCO in preserving and promoting cultural heritage. These two heritage sites in the heart of Hanoi, one symbolizing knowledge and talent, the other representing history and national identity, convey a shared message to the world: that culture and education are the cornerstones of peace, sustainable development, and humanity’s future.

Marking the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-UNESCO relations (1976-2026), Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van affirmed that the partnership between Vietnam and UNESCO has continued to grow stronger, becoming increasingly comprehensive, substantive, and effective. UNESCO has remained a trusted friend and partner, accompanying Vietnam throughout its reconstruction, renewal, international integration, and development. At the same time, Vietnam has emerged as an active, responsible member, making meaningful contributions to UNESCO’s shared goals.

The Deputy Minister stressed that in this new era of development, in line with the spirit of Politburo Resolution No. 80 on the development of Vietnamese culture and Resolution No. 06 on implementing the foreign policy orientations of the 14th National Party Congress, Vietnam will continue to harness culture as a source of internal strength, preserve and promote the value of its heritage, and proactively contribute to cultural exchange, multilateral cooperation, and UNESCO’s common objectives of peace, sustainable development, and human progress.

Ambassador and Head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to UNESCO Nguyen Thi Van Anh spoke at the event (Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper)

Speaking at the event, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Nayef Al-Fayez praised the exceptional significance of Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam as one of Vietnam’s most iconic cultural and historical symbols. Beyond its architectural and historical value, he noted, Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam stands as a vivid testament to Vietnam’s long-standing tradition of valuing knowledge, education, and scholarship. It also reflects the understanding that heritage is not merely about preserving the past but about sustaining living values that continue to inspire future generations.

In an interview with Nhan Dan Newspaper’s correspondent in France, Ambassador and Head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to UNESCO Nguyen Thi Van Anh emphasized that hosting the cultural program “Dao Hoc” at UNESCO Headquarters was not only a tribute to the 950th anniversary of Quoc Tu Giam but also a meaningful event within the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-UNESCO relations.

According to Ambassador Nguyen Thi Van Anh, many international guests were surprised to learn that Vietnam established an institution of higher learning nearly a thousand years ago. The event therefore provided an important opportunity to introduce the international community to Vietnam’s enduring tradition of learning, its long educational heritage, and the distinctive cultural values of the Vietnamese people. She noted that the program received highly positive feedback from international delegates and UNESCO leaders, helping deepen global understanding of Vietnam’s history, culture, and humanistic values.

The Ambassador also revealed that, in addition to activities in Vietnam, a series of events will continue to be held at UNESCO Headquarters throughout the year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-UNESCO relations. These initiatives aim to promote Vietnam’s image, people, culture, and heritage to the international community, while fostering greater mutual understanding, dialogue, and cooperation among nations.

Sharing his thoughts on the significance of bringing the story of Vietnam’s educational tradition to UNESCO Headquarters, Lê Xuan Kieu, Director of the Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam Center for Cultural and Scientific Activities, noted that 2026 marks the 950th anniversary of Quoc Tu Giam, Vietnam’s first university. The milestone provides an opportunity to introduce the world to the core values of Vietnam’s scholarly tradition, including its respect for learning, reverence for knowledge, and enduring culture of honoring teachers and nurturing talent.

The exhibition space helps guests learn about Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam and the Vietnamese people’s tradition of academic excellence and respect for learning. (Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper)

Delegates were also treated to the special artistic program “Dao Hoc”, which showcased the richness of Vietnamese culture through exhibitions, music, Ao Dai, and performance arts. Fashion designer Minh Hanh’s Ao Dai collections, inspired by Vietnam’s educational traditions, conveyed the values of Humanity and Trustworthiness while emphasizing that learning is not only a means of acquiring knowledge but also a path toward character development and personal growth.

According to designer Minh Hanh, the materials and imagery featured in the program, from conical hats and highland brocade to traditional handicrafts, are cultural values distilled from the everyday life of the Vietnamese people. In the context of a rapidly growing creative economy, she noted, these elements represent a valuable resource for Vietnam to continue promoting its cultural identity while creating new value based on tradition.

Through the voice of People’s Artist Thanh Lam, along with fashion performances showcasing Ao Dai, Northwest brocade, A Luoi textiles, Central Highlands weaving, and Vietnamese silk, the program highlighted the diverse beauty of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. It presented a culture that is unified in diversity, one that is continuously preserved, creatively renewed, and passed down through generations.

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