Vietnam’s Xoan singing will be one of the 23 heritages to be put for recognition as a world intangible cultural heritage at the 6th Session of the UNESCO Intergovernmetnal Committee for Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritages to be held in Bali, Indonesia from Nov. 22-29.

The information was released by Cecile Duvelle, Chief of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Section of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), at a press conference during the 36 th meeting of the UNESCO General Assembly in Paris on Nov. 8.

Cecile Duvelle affirmed that Vietnam sees a great possibility for success as Xoan singing meets all the five compulsory criteria.

Vietnam has been fully aware of the importance of preserving and promoting the country’s intangible cultural heritages, she said.

The country has mobilised excellent experts for working on a dossier of Xoan singing to be submitted to UNESCO for recognition as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of Urgent Protection”, she added.

Xoan singing, a vocal art of villages in the ancestral land of Phu Tho , is usually performed in front of the communal house during the village festivals in the spring. Based on legends and historical, archeological and social records, researchers say that Xoan singing first appeared a long time ago, from the time when the Hung Kings established the nation.

In the face of Xoan singing falling into oblivion, since August 2009, Phu Tho province coordinated with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and UNESCO in organising workshops on this form of art and the submission of a dossier of Xoan singing for UNESCO recognition as an “Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of Urgent Protection”./.