List of World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia
The UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has designated 47 World Heritage Sites in nine countries (also called "State parties") of Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Only Brunei and Timor-Leste (East Timor) lack World Heritage Sites.[1][2]
Indonesia lead the list with ten inscribed sites, followed by Thailand and Vietnam each have eight inscribed sites, with the Philippines has six, Malaysia five, Cambodia four, Laos three, Myanmar two, and Singapore one.[3] The first sites from the region were inscribed at the 15th session of the World Heritage Committee in 1991.[4] The latest sites inscribed are Phu Phrabat, a testimony to the Sīma stone tradition of the Dvaravati period in Thailand and the Archaeological Heritage of Niah National Park's Caves Complex in Malaysia, inscribed in the 46th session of the Committee in 2024.[5] Each year, UNESCO's World Heritage Committee may inscribe new sites or delist those no longer meeting the criteria, the selection based on ten criteria of which six stand for cultural heritage (i–vi) and four for natural heritage (vii–x);[6] some sites are "mixed" and represent both types of heritage. In Southeast Asia, there are 32 cultural, 14 natural and 1 mixed sites.[3]
The World Heritage Committee may also specify that a site is endangered, citing "conditions which threaten the very characteristics for which a property was inscribed on the World Heritage List." One site in this region, Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra, is listed as endangered; Angkor and Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras were once listed but were taken off in 2004 and 2012 respectively.
By comparison with other world regions such as East Asia, South Asia, Middle East, Central America, and Western Europe, the designation of UNESCO sites in the Southeast Asian region has been regarded as 'too few and too slow' since the inception of the 21st century. Scholars from various Southeast Asian nations have suggested for the establishment of an inclusive Southeast Asian body that will cater to the gaps of the region's activities in UNESCO as the majority of nations in the region are underperforming in the majority of the lists adopted by UNESCO, notably the World Heritage List.
Legend
[edit]- Site; named after the World Heritage Committee's official designation[3]
- Location; at city, regional, or provincial level and geocoordinates
- Criteria; as defined by the World Heritage Committee[6]
- Area; in hectares and acres. If available, the size of the buffer zone has been noted as well. A value of zero implies that no data has been published by UNESCO
- Year; during which the site was inscribed to the World Heritage List
- Description; brief information about the site, including reasons for qualifying as an endangered site, if applicable.
World Heritage Sites
[edit]Location of sites
[edit]Southeast Asia has the fewest UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Asia, next to Central and North Asia, despite being the base of the UNESCO Asia-Pacific headquarters located in Bangkok, Thailand and having a diverse line of natural and cultural heritage sites. Due to this, numerous scholars have been calling on Southeast Asian governments to participate and nominate more sites in UNESCO annually.
Various institutions have also criticized UNESCO for its 'Europe-centric' designations. An example of which was when UNESCO declared 10 UNESCO sites in Italy (a European country) in just a single year (1997). During the same time, 8 sites were declared for the entire Asian continent, where no designated site was located in Southeast Asia at all.[59]
Green - Natural; Yellow - Cultural; Blue - Mixed; Red - In danger
Performance of Southeast Asia in UNESCO
[edit]The performance of Southeast Asia is contrasted by the performance of South and East Asia. Southeast Asian countries are in blue.
Tentative List
[edit]Brunei and Timor-Leste currently have no tentative list sites. Both Brunei and Timor-Leste are presently undergoing comprehensive research for tentative site submissions [citation needed]. The latest countries revised their tentative lists are the Philippines and Thailand in 2024.
The following lists are the current nomination process for each country.
Cambodia
[edit]There are currently 7 sites on the tentative list.
- The Site of Angkor Borei and Phnom Da (2020)
- The Archeological complex of Banteay Chhmar (2020)
- Beng Malea Temple (2020)
- Ancient City of Oudong (2020)
- Phnom Kulen: Archeological Site/Ancient Site of Mahendraparvata (2020)
- Former M-13 prison/Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (former S-21)/Choeung Ek Genocidal Centre (former Execution Site of S-21) (2020)
- The ancient complex of Preah Khan Kompong Svay (2020)
Indonesia
[edit]There are currently 19 sites on the tentative list.[60]
- Betung Kerihun National Park (Transborder Rainforest Heritage of Borneo) (2004)
- Bunaken National Park (2005)
- Raja Ampat Islands (2005)
- Taka Bonerate National Park (2005)
- Wakatobi National Park (2005)
- Derawan Islands (2005)
- Tana Toraja Traditional Settlement (2009)
- Bawomataluo Site (2009)
- Muara Takus Compound Site (2009)
- Muarajambi Temple Compound (2009)
- Trowulan - Former Capital City of Majapahit Kingdom (2009)
- Prehistoric Cave Sites in Maros-Pangkep (2009)
- Sangkulirang - Mangkalihat Karts: Prehistoric rock art area (2015)
- The Old Town of Jakarta (Formerly old Batavia) and 4 outlying islands (Onrust, Kelor, Cipir dan Bidadari) (2015) (Nominated in 2018)[61]
- Semarang Old Town (2015)
- Traditional Settlement at Nagari Sijunjung (2015)
- The Historic and Marine Landscape of the Banda Islands (2015)
- Kebun Raya Bogor (2018)
- Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra – Significant Boundary Modification (2023)
Laos
[edit]There are currently 2 sites on the tentative list.
- That Luang of Vientiane (1992)
- Hin Nam No National Protected Area (2019)
Malaysia
[edit]There are currently 5 sites on the tentative list.
- National Park (Taman Negara) of Peninsular Malaysia (2014)
- FRIM Selangor Forest Park (2017)
- Gombak Selangor Quartz Ridge (2017)
- Royal Belum State Park (2017)
- Sungai Buloh Leprosarium (2019)
Myanmar
[edit]There are currently 15 sites on the tentative list.[62]
- Wooden Monasteries of Konbaung Period: Ohn Don, Sala, Pakhangyi, Pakhannge, Legaing, Sagu, Shwe-Kyaung (Mandalay) (1996)
- Badah-lin and associated caves (1996)
- Ancient cities of Upper Myanmar: Innwa, Amarapura, Sagaing, Mingun, Mandalay (1996)
- Mrauk-U (1996)
- Inle Lake (1996)
- Mon cities: Bago, Hanthawaddy (1996)
- Ayeyawady River Corridor (2014)
- Hkakabo Razi Landscape (2014)
- Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary (2014)
- Natma Taung National Park (2014)
- Myeik Archipelago (2014)
- Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary (2014)
- Taninthayi Forest Corridor (2014)
- Pondaung anthropoid primates palaeontological sites (2018)
- Shwedagon Pagoda on Singuttara Hill (2018)
Philippines
[edit]There are currently 25 sites on the tentative list.[63]
- Batanes Protected landscapes and seascapes (1993)
- The Tabon Cave Complex and all of Lipuun (2006)
- Paleolithic Archaeological Sites in Cagayan Valley (2006)
- Kabayan Mummy Burial Caves (2006)
- Butuan Archeological Sites (2006)
- Baroque Churches of the Philippines (Extension) (2006)
- Petroglyphs and Petrographs of the Philippines (2006)
- Neolithic Shell Midden Sites in Lal-lo and Gattaran Municipalities (2006)
- Chocolate Hills Natural Monument (2006)
- Mt. Malindang Range Natural Park (2006)
- Mt. Pulag National Park (2006)
- Apo Reef Natural Park (2006)
- El Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Protected Area (2006)
- Coron Island Natural Biotic Area (2006)
- Mt. Iglit-Baco National Park (2006)
- Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park and outlying areas inclusive of the buffer zone (2006)
- Mt. Mantalingahan Protected Landscape (2015)
- Mayon Volcano Natural Park (MMVNP) (2015)
- Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary (2015)
- The Sugar Cultural Landscape of Negros and Panay Islands (2024)
- The Historic Towns and Landscape of Taal Volcano and its Caldera Lake (2024)
- Colonial Urban Plan and Fortifications of the Walled City of Manila (2024)
- Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (2024)
- Kitanglad and Kalatungan Mountain Ranges: Sacred Sites of Bukidnon (2024)
- Corregidor Island and Historic Fortifications of Manila Bay (2024)
- Samar Island Natural Park (2024)
- Prehistoric Sites of the Cagayan Valley Basin (2024)
- Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Extension) (2024)
- Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary (Extension) – Pujada Bay (2024)
Singapore
[edit]There is currently 1 site on the tentative list.
- The Padang Civic Ensemble (2022)
Thailand
[edit]There are currently 6 sites on the tentative list.[64]
- Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Nakhon Si Thammarat (2012)
- Monuments, Sites and Cultural Landscape of Chiang Mai, Capital of Lanna (2015)
- Phra That Phanom, its related historic buildings and associated landscape (2017)
- Ensemble of Phanom Rung, Muang Tam and Plai Bat Sanctuaries (2019)
- The Andaman Sea Nature Reserves of Thailand (2021)
- Songkhla and its Associated Lagoon Settlements (2024)
Vietnam
[edit]There are currently 7 sites on the tentative list.
- Huong Son Complex of Natural Beauty and Historical Monuments (1991)
- The Area of Old Carved Stone in Sapa (1997)
- Cat Tien National Park (2006)
- Con Moong Cave (2006)
- Ba Be - Na Hang Natural Heritage Area (2017)
- The Yen Tu Complex of Monuments and Landscapes (2021)
- Oc Eo - Ba The archaeological site (2022)
See also
[edit]- Intangible Cultural Heritage Register of Southeast Asia
- Southeast Asia Memories of the World Register
- UNESCO Biosphere Reserves of Southeast Asia
- List of World Heritage Sites in Cambodia
- List of World Heritage Sites in Indonesia
- List of World Heritage Sites in Malaysia
- List of World Heritage Sites in the Philippines
- List of World Heritage Sites in Thailand
- List of World Heritage Sites in Vietnam
Notes
[edit]- ^ First inscription as Ha Long Bay. Extended inscription in 2000 to include natural criterion (i) (in present nomenclature criterion (vii)) and extended again in 2023 to include Cat Ba Archipelago and name change to the present name.
- ^ First inscription as Tubbataha Reef Marine Park. Extended in 2009 and name change to the present name.
References
[edit]- ^ "Number of World Heritage Properties by region". UNESCO. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
- ^ "Composition of macro geographical (continental) regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other groupings". Geographical region and composition of each region. United Nations Statistics Division. 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ^ a b c "World Heritage List". UNESCO. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
- ^ "Number of World Heritage properties inscribed each Year". UNESCO. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
- ^ "New Inscribed Properties 2023+2022". UNESCO. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ^ a b "The Criteria for Selection". UNESCO. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
- ^ "Angkor". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ 16th session 1992, pp. 37–38, annex VI
- ^ 28th session 2004, pp. 66–67
- ^ "Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley". UNESCO. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
- ^ "Bagan". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
- ^ "Ban Chiang Archaeological Site". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Baroque Churches of the Philippines". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Borobudur Temple Compounds". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long - Hanoi". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Citadel of the Ho Dynasty". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Complex of Hué Monuments". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy". UNESCO. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
- ^ "Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Gunung Mulu National Park". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 16 October 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Ha Long Bay". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Historic City of Ayutthaya". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Historic Town of Vigan". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Hoi An Ancient Town". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex". UNESCO. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ^ "Kinabalu Park". UNESCO. Archived from the original on 20 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Koh Ker: Archaeological Site of Ancient Lingapura or Chok Gargyar". UNESCO. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ "Komodo National Park". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Lorentz National Park". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Seven cultural sites inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2019-07-09.
- ^ "Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary". UNESCO. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
- ^ "My Son Sanctuary". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Ombilin coal mine makes it into UNESCO World Heritage list". Antara News. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
- ^ "Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Phu Phrabat, a testimony to the Sīma stone tradition of the Dvaravati period". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "Prambanan Temple Compounds". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Pyu Ancient Cities". UNESCO. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
- ^ "Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Examination of nominations of cultural and natural properties to the List of World Heritage in Danger". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. 2001. pp. 139–141. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ "Sangiran Early Man Site". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Singapore Botanic Gardens". UNESCO. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
- ^ "Temple of Preah Vihear". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk, Archaeological Site of Ancient Ishanapura". UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
- ^ "The Ancient Town of Si Thep and its Associated Dvaravati Monuments". UNESCO. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ "The Archaeological Heritage of Niah National Park's Caves Complex". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "The Cosmological Axis of Yogyakarta and its Historic Landmarks". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
- ^ "Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Town of Luang Prabang". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Trang An Landscape Complex". UNESCO. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
- ^ "Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra". UNESCO. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
- ^ "Danger listing for Indonesia's Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra". UNESCO. Retrieved 26 July 2011.
- ^ "Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Decision - 33COM 8B.3 - Natural properties - Extension of properties already inscribed on the World Heritage List - Tubbataha Reef Marine Park (Philippines)". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Ujung Kulon National Park". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape". UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "UNESCO World Heritage Centre - World Heritage List". whc.unesco.org.
- ^ "'Tempo Doeloe' Coal Mine Declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco".
- ^ "Lacking 'authenticity', Kota Tua fails to make UNESCO heritage list".
- ^ "Culture Ministry to Nominate Bagan, Mrauk U, Shwedagon for UNESCO Recognition". 29 June 2017.
- ^ "Mayon Volcano Natural Park on list of nominees for World Heritage Status". 28 April 2015.
- ^ "Tentative Lists of Thailand". UNESCO. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
General sources
[edit]- "World Heritage Committee: Sixteenth session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- "World Heritage Committee: Twenty-eighth session" (PDF). UNESCO. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- "List of World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia with large pictures". Retrieved 6 March 2015.