Vietnam’s imprints in protecting intangible cultural heritages

A performance of Quan ho (love duet) singing, one of Vietnam's UNESCO intangible cultural heritage of humanity (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is one of the first nationsjoining the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage(2003 Convention), and its efforts to contribute to the preservation and promotion of such heritage over the past two decades have won recognition from the international community, as demonstrated in the country's twice election to the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

On September 20, 2005, Vietnam joined the convention,becoming one of its first 30 official members. The Southeast Asian nation iscurrently home to 15 intangible heritage items recognised by the United NationsEducational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The heritages, ownedby different ethnic groups, are located in many provinces and cities nationwide.

According to the Cultural Heritage Department under theMinistry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in line with Vietnam's commitments toUNESCO, projects on the conservation and promotion of these intangible culturalheritages have been either already in place or under development.

A prominent example, demonstrating Vietnam’s dedication to heritage conservation over the past years, is the case of Xoan singing (a type oftraditional art performed during rituals and celebrations) in the northernprovince of Phu Tho. On December 24, 2011, the art form was officially listedamong UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. In2015, Phu Tho made Xoan singing a specific tourism product in its tourismdevelopment project for 2015-2020. In 2017, the art form was added to theRepresentative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, marking thefirst time that UNESCO committee has decided to pull a heritage out of the listof those in need of urgent protection and transfer it to the representativelist.

A performance of Xoan singing (Photo: VNA)

After its first term of 2006-2010 at the IntergovernmentalCommittee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage which ended with success, on July 6 lastyear, Vietnam was elected to the committee for the 2022-2026 term, with 120votes – the highest among the elected countries. The committee, consisting of24 members, aims to promote the objectives of the Convention, provide guidanceon best practices, and make recommendations on measures for the safeguarding ofthe intangible cultural heritage.

According to Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van, Head of thePermanent Delegation of Vietnam to UNESCO, winning the election for the second timeis of great significance in many aspects, showing the country's increasingposition and prestige in the international arena, as well as the internationalcommunity’s confidence in its contribution to and administration capacity inthe global multilateral institutions, and recognition of Vietnam'scontributions in relations with UNESCO, in preserving and promoting the value ofintangible heritage in the country and in the world. It is also a result ofVietnam's foreign policy of multilateralisation, diversification andcomprehensive and extensive international integration, as well as the fruit ofa methodical and concerted implementation of its candidacy plan in recent years.

The 20th anniversary of the 2003 Convention will be marked with a ceremony on the occasion of the Hung Kings Temple Festival in the northern province of Phu Tho at the end of April, which is part of a plan of actions of Vietnam as a member of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

In addition, an Intangible Cultural Heritage Performance Festival will take place in Viet Tri City, Phu Tho province, from April 21 to 24, during which artisans from 13 cities and provinces nationwide will perform 15 UNESCO-recognised cultural heritage genres to the public./.

VNA