Hanoi (VNA) - Five years after being inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Thai Xoe art continues not only to be preserved and promoted but also to thrive in the communities where it originated.
Rather than simply preserving the art form or presenting it on stage, many localities are bringing it back into village cultural life and incorporating it into sustainable tourism models that generate livelihoods and raise awareness of heritage values.
This approach is also in line with Resolution No. 19-NQ/TW, which emphasises the promotion of national cultural values, heritage preservation, the central role of communities and sustainable development. Heritage should not simply be a resource for attracting tourists; first and foremost, it must continue to be preserved, practised and passed down within communities.
Preserving culture by keeping heritage alive
For intangible cultural heritage, vitality lies not in titles or the number of performances but in its continued presence in everyday community life. Xoe remains a living heritage when local people continue to practise it, teach it to younger generations and perform it at festivals and community gatherings.
Such continuous practice sustains the heritage over time and is also central to UNESCO’s approach to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.
The settings in which heritage is practised also allow it to adapt to contemporary life. When cultural traditions remain part of festivals, everyday activities, work and community-based tourism, heritage does not become “frozen” like a museum exhibit. Instead, it continues to evolve and be enriched by the creativity of successive generations.
In recent years, many localities have gradually shifted from an approach of “preserving for safekeeping” to “preserving through promotion.”
As tourism increasingly taps into the “soft power” of heritage, visitors can do more than simply watch staged performances. They can experience local cultural life firsthand, take part in community activities, and gain a deeper understanding of traditional customs, rituals and folk arts. Tourism can therefore serve as a bridge for bringing heritage to a wider audience.
A driver of sustainable tourism
The 2026 Muong Lo Culture and Tourism Festival, marking five years since Thai Xoe art was inscribed by UNESCO, is an example of this approach.
Under the theme “Essence of Thai Xoe – Colours of the Northwest,” the festival will take place in Lao Cai from September 25 to October 2, 2026, featuring a wide range of cultural, tourism and community experiences.
Many activities go beyond staged performances to create opportunities for visitors to experience heritage firsthand. The “A Day Living in a Thai Village” programme allows visitors to take part in local cultural life, while a cultural space showcasing ethnic groups of the northwestern region recreates traditional lifestyles, customs and crafts. The Northwest Tourism Fair also combines tourism promotion with the showcasing of OCOP products.
Folk cultural activities, traditional sports, agricultural experiences, paragliding and the Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail marathon further diversify tourism offerings, encouraging visitors to stay longer and gain a deeper understanding of local culture.
In this setting, Thai Xoe is not simply a standalone performance but a thread connecting people, cultural spaces and tourism experiences.
Its value lies not only in its dance movements and Xoe circles, but also in the folk knowledge, social customs, community bonds and cultural environment that have sustained it for generations. Safeguarding the heritage therefore means creating conditions for communities to continue practising it in their daily lives.
Communities are not merely beneficiaries of tourism but also creators, custodians and transmitters of cultural values. By taking part in tourism activities and sharing their customs, traditional crafts, cuisine and folk arts, local people help keep heritage alive in its original cultural setting.
Today, the value of Thai Xoe art is reflected not only in its UNESCO recognition but also in its continued presence in community life and its ability to adapt to contemporary society.
As communities continue to join hands in Xoe circles, pass their cultural traditions on to younger generations and share their way of life with visitors, the heritage will do more than survive. It will continue to thrive, reach wider audiences and add to the lasting appeal of Vietnam’s tourism./.
