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 Vietnam with nine, with Thailand with eight, Malaysia and the Philippines each with six, Cambodia with five, Laos with three, Myanmar with two, and Singapore with 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 Cambodian Memorial Sites: From centres of repression to places of peace and reflection in Cambodia, Forest Research Institute Malaysia Forest Park Selangor in Malaysia and Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Landscapes in Vietnam, inscribed in the 47th session of the Committee in 2025.^[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

The table is sortable by column by clicking on the at the top of the appropriate column; alphanumerically for the Site, Area, and Year columns; by state party for the Location column; and by criteria type for the Criteria column. Transborder sites sort at the bottom.

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

  † In danger

Site	Image	Location	Criteria	Area ha (acre)	Year	Description	Refs
Angkor		Siem Reap Province, Cambodia 13°26′N 103°50′E	Cultural: (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)	40,100 (99,000)	1992	The site was listed as endangered from its inscription in times of political instability following the civil war in the 1980s to 2004.	[7][8] [9]
Archaeological Heritage of the Lenggong Valley		Perak, Malaysia 5°4′N 100°58′E	Cultural: (iii), (iv)	398.64 (985.1); buffer zone 1,786.77 (4,415.2)	2012		[10]
Bagan		Mandalay Region, Myanmar 21°10′00″N 94°52′00″E	Cultural: (iii), (iv), (vi)	5,005.49 (12,368.8); buffer zone 18,146.83 (44,841.8)	2019		[11]
Ban Chiang Archaeological Site		Udon Thani Province, Thailand 17°32′55″N 103°47′23″E	Cultural: (iii)	30 (74); buffer zone 760 (1,900)	1992		[12]
Baroque Churches of the Philippines		Manila; Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur; Paoay, Ilocos Norte and Miag-ao, Iloilo; Philippines 14°35′24″N 120°58′12″E	Cultural: (ii), (iv)	—	1993		[13]
Borobudur Temple Compounds		Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia 7°36′28″S 110°12′13″E	Cultural: (i), (ii), (vi)	25.51 (63.0); buffer zone 64.31 (158.9)	1991	Buddhist monument dating from the 8th and 9th centuries, located in Central Java. The monument structure is a large stepped pyramid crowned with rows of stupas.	[14]
Cambodian Memorial Sites: From centres of repression to places of peace and reflection		Kampong Chhnang and Phnom Penh, Cambodia 11°32′58″N 104°55′4″E	Cultural: (vi)	3.9 (9.6); buffer zone 21.9 (54)	2025		[15]
Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long - Hanoi		Hanoi, Vietnam 21°2′22″N 105°50′14″E	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (vi)	18.395 (45.46); buffer zone 108 (270)	2010		[16]
Citadel of the Hồ Dynasty		Tây Giai, Vĩnh Lộc District, Thanh Hóa Province, Vietnam 20°4′41″N 105°36′17″E	Cultural: (ii), (iv)	155.5 (384); buffer zone 5,078.5 (12,549)	2011		[17]
Complex of Huế Monuments		Huế, Vietnam 16°28′10″N 107°34′40″E	Cultural: (iii), (iv)	315.47 (779.5); buffer zone 71.93 (177.7)	1993		[18]
Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy		Bali, Indonesia 8°20′0″S 115°0′0″E	Cultural: (iii), (v), (vi)	19,519.9 (48,235); buffer zone 1,454.8 (3,595)	2012		[19]
Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex		Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi, Sa Kaeo and Buriram Provinces, Thailand 14°20′N 102°3′E	Natural: (x)	615,500 (1,521,000)	2005		[20]
Forest Research Institute Malaysia Forest Park Selangor		Selangor, Malaysia 3°14′N 101°38′E	Natural: (ii), (vi)	589 (1,460); buffer zone 767 (1,900)	2025		[21]
Gunung Mulu National Park		Northern Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia 4°8′N 114°55′E	Natural: (vii), (viii), (ix), (x)	52,864 (130,630)	2000		[22]
Hạ Long Bay - Cát Bà Archipelago		Quảng Ninh Province, Vietnam 20°54′N 107°6′E	Natural: (vii), (viii)	65,650 (162,200); buffer zone 34,140 (84,400)	1994[nb 1]		[23]
Historic City of Ayutthaya		Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Thailand 14°20′52″N 100°33′38″E	Cultural: (iii)	289 (710)	1991		[24]
Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic Towns		Sukhothai and Kamphaeng Phet Provinces, Thailand 17°0′26″N 99°47′23″E	Cultural: (i), (iii)	11,852 (29,290)	1991		[25]
Historic Town of Vigan		Ilocos Sur, Philippines 17°34′30″N 120°23′15″E	Cultural: (ii), (iv)	17.25 (42.6)	1999		[26]
Hội An Ancient Town		Hội An, Quảng Nam Province, Vietnam 15°53′0″N 108°20′0″E	Cultural: (ii), (v)	30 (74); buffer zone 280 (690)	1999		[27]
Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex		Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan Provinces, Thailand 13°14′N 5°5′E	Natural: (x)	408,940 (1,010,500)	2021		[28]
Kinabalu Park		Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia 6°15′N 116°30′E	Natural: (ix), (x)	75,370 (186,200)	2000		[29]
Koh Ker: Archaeological Site of Ancient Lingapura or Chok Gargyar		Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia 13°46′59″N 104°32′14″E	Cultural: (ii), (iv)	1,187.61 (2,934.6); buffer zone 3,523.77 (8,707.4)	2023		[30]
Komodo National Park		East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia 8°33′S 119°29′E	Natural: (vii), (x)	219,322 (541,960)	1991		[31]
Lorentz National Park		Papua, Indonesia 4°45′S 137°50′E	Natural: (vii), (ix), (x)	2,350,000 (5,800,000)	1999		[32]
Megalithic Jar Sites in Xiengkhuang - Plain of Jars		Xiangkhouang Province, Laos 19°25′48″N 103°9′10.8″E	Cultural: (iii)	174.56 (431.3); buffer zone 1,012.94 (2,503.0)	2019	Located on a plateau in central Laos, gets its name from more than 2,100 tubular-shaped megalithic stone jars used for funerary practices in the Iron Age.	[33]
Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca		Malacca and Penang, Malay Peninsula, Malaysia 5°25′17″N 100°20′45″E	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv)	154.68 (382.2); buffer zone 392.8 (971)	2008		[34]
Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary		Davao Oriental, Philippines 6°43′2″N 126°10′24″E	Natural: (x)	16,923.07 (41,817.8); buffer zone 9,729.47 (24,042.0)	2014		[35]
Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary		Duy Phú, Duy Xuyên District, Quảng Nam Province, Vietnam 15°31′0″N 108°34′0″E	Cultural: (ii), (iii)	142 (350); buffer zone 920 (2,300)	1999		[36]
Ombilin Coal Mining Heritage of Sawahlunto		West Sumatra, Indonesia 0°40′0″S 100°47′0″E	Cultural: (ii),(iv)	268.18 (662.7); buffer zone 7,356.92 (18,179.3)	2019	Sawahlunto is the oldest coal mining town in South East Asia. At the end of the 19th century, Dutch Indies had discovered and further exploited coal in Sawahlunto.	[37]
Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park		Bố Trạch and Minh Hóa districts, Quảng Bình Province, Vietnam 17°32′14″N 106°9′5″E	Natural: (viii)	123,326 (304,750); buffer zone 220,055 (543,770)	2003		[38]
Phu Phrabat, a testimony to the Sīma stone tradition of the Dvaravati period		Udon Thani Province, Thailand	Cultural: (iii), (v)	585.955 (1,447.93); buffer zone 598.806 (1,479.68)	2024		[39]
Prambanan Temple Compounds		Central Java and Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia 7°45′8″S 110°29′30″E	Cultural: (i), (iv)	—	1991		[40]
Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park		Palawan, Philippines 10°10′0″N 118°55′0″E	Natural: (vii), (x)	22,202 (54,860)	1999		[41]
Pyu Ancient Cities		Mandalay, Magway, Bago, Myanmar 22°28′12″N 95°49′7″E	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv)	5,809 (14,350); buffer zone 6,790 (16,800)	2014		[42]
Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras		Ifugao, Cordillera Region, Philippines 16°56′2″N 121°8′12″E	Cultural: (iii), (iv), (v)	—	1995		[43][44]
Sangiran Early Man Site		Central Java, Indonesia 7°24′0″S 110°49′0″E	Cultural: (iii), (vi)	5,600 (14,000)	1996		[45]
Singapore Botanic Gardens		Central Region, Singapore 1°18′55″N 103°48′58″E	Cultural: (ii), (iv)	49 (120); buffer zone 137 (340)	2015		[46]
Temple of Preah Vihear		Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia 14°23′26″N 104°40′49″E	Cultural: (i)	154.7 (382); buffer zone 2,642.5 (6,530)	2008		[47]
Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk, Archaeological Site of Ancient Ishanapura		Kompung Thom Province, Cambodia 12°52′15″N 105°2′35″E	Cultural: (ii), (iii), (vi)	840.03 (2,075.8); buffer zone 2,523.6 (6,236)	2017		[48]
The Ancient Town of Si Thep and its Associated Dvaravati Monuments		Phetchabun Province, Thailand	Cultural: (ii), (iii)	866.471 (2,141.10); buffer zone 3,824.148 (9,449.68)	2023		[49]
The Archaeological Heritage of Niah National Park's Caves Complex		Miri Division, Sarawak, Malaysia	Cultural: (iii), (v)3°48′50″N 113°46′53″E	3,690 (9,100); buffer zone 344 (850)	2024		[50]
The Cosmological Axis of Yogyakarta and its Historic Landmarks		Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia	Cultural: (ii), (iii)	42.22 (104.3); buffer zone 291.17 (719.5)	2023	The 6 km north-south axis central axis of Yogyakarta is positioned to link Mount Merapi and the Indian Ocean, with the Kraton at its centre, has become a centre of government and Javanese cultural traditions.	[51]
Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries		Kanchanaburi, Tak and Uthai Thani Provinces, Thailand 15°20′N 98°55′E	Natural: (vii), (ix), (x)	622,200 (1,537,000)	1991		[52]
Town of Luang Prabang		Luang Prabang Province, Laos 19°53′20″N 102°8′0″E	Cultural: (ii), (iv), (v)	820 (2,000); buffer zone 12,560 (31,000)	1995		[53]
Tràng An Landscape Complex		Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam 20°15′24″N 105°53′47″E	Mixed: (v), (vii), (viii)	6,226 (15,380); buffer zone 6,026 (14,890)	2014		[54]
Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra†		Sumatra, Indonesia 2°30′S 101°30′E	Natural: (vii), (ix), (x)	2,595,124 (6,412,690)	2004		[55][56]
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park		Cagayancillo, Palawan, Philippines 8°57′12″N 119°52′3″E	Natural: (vii), (ix), (x)	96,828 (239,270)	1993[nb 2]		[57][58]
Ujung Kulon National Park		Banten and Lampung, Indonesia 6°45′S 105°20′E	Natural: (vii), (x)	78,525 (194,040)	1991		[59]
Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape		Champasak Province, Laos 14°50′54″N 105°49′20″E	Cultural: (iii), (iv), (vi)	39,000 (96,000)	2001		[60]

Location of sites

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.^[61]

Green - Natural; Yellow - Cultural; Blue - Mixed; Red - In danger

Angkor

Borobudur

Ayutthaya

Sukhothai

Koh Ker

Komodo

Prambanan

Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng

Kaeng Krachan

Ujung Kulon

Ban Chiang

Phu Phrabat

Baroque Churches

Hué

Tubbataha Reefs

Hạ Long Bay-Cát Bà

Cordillera Rice Terraces

Luang Prabang

Sangiran

Vigan

Hội An

Lorentz

Mỹ Sơn

Puerto-Princesa

Gunung Mulu

Kinabalu

Vat Phou

Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng

Sumatra Rainforest

Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai

Melaka and Georgetown

Preah Vihear

Thăng Long Citadel

Hồ Citadel

Lenggong

Bali

Mt Hamiguitan

Sambor Prei Kuk

Pyu Ancient Cities

Tràng An

Singapore Botanic Gardens

Bagan

Sawahlunto

Plain of Jars

Yogyakarta

Si Thep

Niah

Cambodian Memorial Sites

FRIM Selangor

Location of World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia

Performance of Southeast Asia in UNESCO

The performance of Southeast Asia is contrasted by the performance of South and East Asia. Southeast Asian countries are in blue.

Tentative List

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

There are currently 6 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)
• The ancient complex of Preah Khan Kompong Svay (2020)

Indonesia

There are currently 19 sites on the tentative list.^[62]

• 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)^[63]
• 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

There are currently 2 sites on the tentative list.

• That Luang of Vientiane (1992)
• Hin Nam No National Protected Area (2019)

Malaysia

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

There are currently 15 sites on the tentative list.^[64]

• 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

There are currently 25 sites on the tentative list.^[65]

• 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

There is currently 1 site on the tentative list.

• The Padang Civic Ensemble (2022)

Thailand

There are currently 6 sites on the tentative list.^[66]

• 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)
• Phra Prang of Wat Arun Ratchawararam: The Masterpiece of Krung Rattanakosin (2025)

Vietnam

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

• 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

1. 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.
2. First inscription as Tubbataha Reef Marine Park. Extended in 2009 and name change to the present name.