Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has given the green light for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to sign relevant dossiers for submission to the UNESCO on behalf of the Government. The submission will be made prior to March 31.

A group performance of Xoe Thai dance.

Xoe Thai is a unique type of traditional dance that is associated with and plays a significant role in the daily life of Thai ethnic communities in the northwest of Vietnam, especially in the provinces of Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La and Yen Bai. It is performed in various community activities from festivals to funeral rituals.

There are about 30 Xoe dances, which have been developed, protected and handed down through generations intact over hundreds of years, including xoe quat (xoe dance with a fan), xoe khan (xoe dance with a scarf), xoe non (xoe dance with a conical hat) and many others with contents reflecting community activities and expressing the Thai people’s emotion.

With gentle and alluring rhythms, dancers usually form a circle around a festive flame and move to the sound of melodic traditional music.

Meanwhile, Cham people in the south central provinces of Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan, particularly those residing in the Ninh Thuan’s Bau Truc pottery village, have long been renowned for their art of pottery.

Cham potters use their skills to create a variety of pottery products.

One of the most outstanding features of the traditional Cham pottery is the technique of shaping their wares by hand rather than by a wheel and their use of simple tools or shells to decorate the products. The pottery is dried under the sun for four to six hours before being fired outdoor over straw or wood.

The skills of the Cham have created a variety of products used for daily activities and spiritual worship. Some of the products include cylindrical jars which store water or rice, decorative lamps, reliefs, and statuettes of apsara or gods.

The Bau Truc pottery village is one of the oldest of its kind in Southeast Asia. About 85 percent of the village’s 400 households make pottery. However, because of industrialisation, the local craft is fading, with a fewer number of workers recorded.

Raglai ethnic people’s ceremony recognized as national intangible heritage

The “Bo ma” (farewell to the dead) ceremony of the Raglai ethnic minority people in the south central province of Ninh Thuan has been recognized as the national cultural intangible heritage.

 

San Chay’s ritual recognised as national intangible heritage

"Le hoi cau mua” (bumper-crop praying ceremony) of the San Chay ethnic minority group in the northern province of Thai Nguyen was granted the status of national intangible cultural heritage at a ceremony held in Tuc Tranh commune, Phu Luong district on January 5.

 

Ho Chi Minh Trail listed as prominent national heritage

The Ho Chi Minh Trail has been listed among 11 prominent national heritage sites, according to a recent announcement from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

 

UNESCO-recognised heritages in Vietnam

Vietnam has so far earned UNESCO recognition for 17 world cultural heritages, ranking first in Southeast Asia.

 

Photos depict values of national heritage

More than 100 of the best entries to the Vietnam Heritage Photo Awards will be displayed at many venues around HCM City and provinces until June next year.

 

Source: VNA