Xuan Pha dance: Unique national intangible cultural heritage

The Xuan Pha dance re-enacts a past event of five neighbouring countries presenting gifts accompanied by their distinctive dance and singing performances to pay homage to King Le Thai To after his victory over Chinese Ming invaders in the 15th century. After hundreds of years, it has become a unique and significant folk dance celebrated annually. The event takes place from the 10th to the 12th of the second lunar month in Xuan Truong commune, Tho Xuan district, Thanh Hoa province.

Xuan Truong Commune and Tho Xuan District implement programmes to preserve and promote the cultural heritage values linked to historical and cultural relics. (Photo: VNA)

The Xuan Pha dance is widely celebrated for its cultural and artistic significance and has been recognised as part of the national intangible cultural heritage. (Photo: VNA)

Members of the local Xuan Pha traditional art troupe continue to engage in farming, passing down the dancing skills to younger generations, while performing at cultural exchanges upon requested. (Photo: VNA)

Chiem Thanh, one of the five parts of the Xuan Pha dance, re-enacts the Champa people’s dance. Performers wear a red-painted wooden mask featuring a low, short nose and two eyes made from peacock feathers. (Photo: VNA)

Xuan Pha dance is a traditional beauty of Thanh Hoa people. (Photo: VNA)

The musical instruments used in the Xuan Pha dance are quite simple, mainly drums, idiophone, and tocsin, creating cheerful sounds. (Photo: VNA)

Xuan Pha dance re-enacts five dances of envoys sent by the five neighbouring countries to congratulate King Le Thai To after his victory over Chinese Ming invaders in the 15th century. (Photo: VNA)