Ancient envoyship maps accredited as UNESCO’s Memory of World

Maps and itinerary of Vietnamese envoys’ journey to China dating from the 18th century were officially announced as a heritage Memory of the World at the 2018 General Meeting of UNESCO’s MOWCAP.
Ancient envoyship maps accredited as UNESCO’s Memory of World ảnh 1The Vietnamese delegates were proud when the documents were recognised as a Memory of the World. (Photo courtesy of Chu Thu Phuong)

Hanoi (VNA) — Maps and itinerary of Vietnameseenvoys’ journey to China dating from the 18th century were officially announcedas a heritage Memory of the World at the 2018 General Meeting of UNESCO’sMemory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific (MOWCAP).

The eighth meeting of MOWCAP took place on May 29-31 inGwangju, the Republic of Korea, attracting 125 representatives from 28countries.

The panel considered 12 dossiers from eight countriesincluding Tuvalu, Myanmar, China, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Australia, theSolomon Islands and Vietnam.

Hoang Hoa Su Trinh Do (The Envoyship Journeys to China –literally translated as maps and itinerary of the envoy’s journey to China)belonged to the Nguyen Huy family in the central province of Ha Tinh.

Ancient envoyship maps accredited as UNESCO’s Memory of World ảnh 2Old texts from the book. (Photo courtesy of Chu Thu Phuong)

With writings, drawings and maps, the book recorded thediplomatic relationship between Vietnam and China in the 18th century throughjourneys of Vietnamese envoys. It was compiled and edited by Nguyen Huy Oanh(1713-1789) based on documents of previous envoys and historical records aswell as notes from his own journey in 1766-1767, during which he worked as themain envoy of the Vietnamese delegates.

Chu Thu Phuong, a member of the Vietnamese delegation at themeeting, said the panel appreciated that the book is a rare and preciousdocument relating to the diplomatic relationship between Vietnam and Chinasince the feudal era. The friendship between the two countries played animportant role in maintaining peace in the region and the world.

The dossier of the book received 17 votes from 17 members ofthe panel. It meets all the criteria to be recognised as a documentary heritageof the Memory of the World programme.

The Memory of the World Programme is an internationalprogramme aimed at safeguarding, preserving and facilitating access to and theuse of documentary heritage. UNESCO launched the programme in 1992. It includesthe inscription of significant documentary heritage on national, regional andinternational registers.

MOWCAP was set up in 1998 and is the regional forum forUNESCO’s global Memory of the World (MOW) Programme. MOWCAP aims to assist withthe preservation of and universal access to documentary heritage of the AsiaPacific region, and also to increase awareness of the existence andsignificance of the heritage.-VNA
VNA

See more

Weightlifter Pham Thi Hong Thanh targets a gold at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand. (Photo courtesy of Hong Thanh)

Athletes setting high goals for 2025

Athletes and coaches across national training centres have returned to intensive training, preparing for strong performances in 2025’s international competitions.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and overseas Vietnamese in Singapore at the Chingay Parade 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese in Singapore join Chingay Parade 2025

The Vietnamese community in Singapore showcased culinary delights such as pho (noodle soup with beef or chicken), banh mi (bread), and banh trang (rice paper) at the Chingay Parade 2025 on February 7-8.

Khmer traditional musical equipment handed over to Khmer traditional music clubs and groups. (Photo: VNA)

Soc Trang works to preserve ethnic minorities’ culture

The Party Committee and People's Committee of Soc Trang province where more than 35% of total population are ethnic minorities have always paid attention to preserving and promoting the traditional values of local ethnic minorities.

A performance programme at a Nguyen Tieu petry night event in 2023. (Photo: VNA)

Ninh Binh to host Vietnam Poetry Day 2025

The 23rd Vietnam Poetry Day will bring together poets born during the resistance wars against the US imperialists, after 1975, during the “Doi moi” (renewal) process until 2000, and after 2000.

Singer My Linh performs at the concert. (Photo: VNA)

“New Year Concert 2025” held in Hanoi

The “New Year Concert 2025” took place at the Ho Guom Opera House in Hanoi on February 5, presenting a mix of famous Vietnamese songs and timeless foreign classical masterpieces

Vietnamese students of Osaka University take a group photo at the Vietnamese Culture Day in Japan programme (Photo: VNA)

Tokyo event honours Vietnamese language, culture

The Vietnamese Culture Day in Japan programme took place in Tokyo on February 4, featuring a array of captivating performances, including Vietnamese poetry readings, traditional songs, and a theatrical adaptation of the folk tale Tam Cam.

The Muong ethnic women at the Khai ha festival (Photo: VNA)

Traditional festivals mark Lunar New Year celebrations

Thousands gathered for the Khai ha (going down to the field) festival, the largest traditional one of the Muong ethnic people, in Phong Phu commune, Tan Lac district, Hoa Binh province on the 8th day of the Lunar New Year.