Vietnam attends UNESCO cultural heritage committee’s 9th session
The session is scheduled to examine Vietnam’s
application for UNESCO’s recognition of the Nghe Tinh Vi-Giam folk
singing as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity,
together with 45 applications from other countries.
During the session from November 24-28, the committee will also
consider eight dossiers seeking recognition as cultural heritage in need
of urgent safeguarding.
Participants are
expected to review national reports on the current status of those on
the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding
as well as reports on the use of international assistance from the
Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund and the selection to the Register for
Best Safeguarding Practices.
A member of
Vietnam’s Cultural Heritage Council said the dossier on Vi-Giam singing
was submitted to the UNESCO in March this year.
This type of folk singing is popular in nearly 260 villages in the
central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh.
The two provinces have 51 singing clubs with over 800 vocalists, many
of whom are actively preserving the folk music.
Vi-Giam folk music, estimated to have 15 tunes of Vi and 8 airs of
Giam, is a repartee sung while working. It reflects the work, cultural
life and feelings of the residents in the central coastal provinces.
Vietnam now has eight cultural
practices recognised by UNESCO as part of the world intangible heritage,
namely Hue's royal court music, Gong space culture in Tay Nguyen
(Central Highlands), the northern province of Bac Ninh's love duet
singing, the Giong festival, Ca Tru ceremonial singing, Xoan singing,
Don Ca Tai Tu music and the worship of Hung Kings.-VNA