VietNamNet Bridge - Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has assigned the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to submit dossiers to the UNESCO to seek the world natural heritage title for Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park for the second time.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will coordinate with the Vietnam National UNESCO Committee to perform the necessary procedures to send the dossier to the UNESCO World Heritage Center.

The new profile includes expand geological and geomorphological criteria since last July, the area of Phong Nha - Ke Bang increased to 123,326 ha under a decision of the Prime Minister of the boundary adjustment of the National Park. The record is also added with the criteria of "biodiversity" and "ecological and biological processes."

In 2003, this National Park was recognized by the UNESCO as Natural World Heritage for the criteria of geology and geomorphology. In 2009, the record of Phong Nha - Ke Bang was added with the biodiversity criteria and submitted to the UNESCO for the approval of the world heritage recognition the second time but the UNESCO returned the files.

Talking about the feasibility of this record, Mr. Nguyen Viet Cuong, from the Cultural Heritage Management Agency, said: "In 2009 the UNESCO returned the profile and asked Vietnam to solve the issues related to the integrity, protection and management of the heritage ... The integrity issue means expanding all the values and now we have done it when the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park is expanded to 123,326 ha. We also have many new studies."

Cuong added that if the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park is recognized as a world natural heritage the second time, it will help Vietnam promote tourism in this place.

Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park is located on the territory of Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province in central Vietnam. The characteristic of this national park is the karsts of millions of years old, which are the most valuable in Southeast Asia and around the world. The landscapes here are majestic, with a beautiful cave system, abundant biological diversity and many historical and cultural relics, underground rivers and rare flora and fauna system in the Red Book of Vietnam and the world. Phong Nha Cave, 7,729 meters long, has 14 caves and a 13,969 meter long underground river.

Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park is one of the favorite destinations in Vietnam of domestic and foreign tourists.

Na Son