Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien has recently signed a decision announcing 17 new national intangible cultural heritages. 

Ba Danh Pagoda Festival in Ha Nam province (Photo:hanam.gov.vn)

Among the newly-recognised national intangible cultural heritages are “Luon Coi” – traditional singing of Tay ethnic minority group in Pac Nam district, the northern mountainous province of Bac Kan; forging craft of Nung An ethnic minorities in Phuc Sen commune, Quang Uyen district, the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang; and “Men Loong Phat Ai” – cockscomb Tet festival of Cong ethnic group and “Ga Ma Thu” – a traditional worshipping ritual of Ha Nhi ethnic minorities in Sin Thau, Chung Chai, Sen Thuong and Leng Su Sin in Muong Nhe district, the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien.

Ba Danh Pagoda Festival and Quyen Son “dam” singing, both in Kim Bang district, the northern province of Ha Nam; along with Trieu Khuc village’s festival in Tan Trieu commune, Thanh Tri district; and “Com” (young sticky rice flakes) making in Me Tri ward, Nam Tu Liem district, Hanoi are also included in the list. 

Other heritages are “Mo Tham That” ritual of Tay ethnic minorities in Lang Giang commune, Van Ban district and “Then” ritual of Giay ethnic minority group in Bat Xat district of the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai; and “Cap sac” (maturity ritual) of Dao Quan Chet ethnic minorities in Xuan Thuy commune, Yen Lap district, the northern midland province of Phu Tho. 

 The status has also been given to brocade weaving of Hre ethnic people in Ba Thanh commune, Ba To district, the central province of Quang Ngai; and Robam dance of Khmer people in Tai Van commune and Nghinh Ong (Whale Worship) festival in Tran De township, Tran De district, the southern province of Soc Trang; patterns on traditional clothes of Red Dao ethnic group in Son Duong, Ham Yen, Chiem Hoa, Na Hang and Lam Binh districts of the northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang; “Xuong” singing of Muong people in Cao Ngoc, Thach Lap, Minh Son and Ngoc Lac communes, the central province of Thanh Hoa; and “Can Tho” signing in Thoi Lai, O Mon and Cai Rang districts of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho. 

As of September 2018, Vietnam boasted about 260 national intangible cultural heritages.-VNA