VietNamNet Bridge - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on November 24 voted to put Vietnam’s hat xoan (Xoan singing) into the list of the world intangible heritages needing urgent protection.
Ten out of 23 candidates from nine other countries including Vietnam, Indonesia, Iran, China, Brazil, Mali, Mauritius, Mongolia and the United Arab Emirates won the title.

The file of Xoan singing is the only documentation that was entirely approved of the assessment council and it is praised as the best among the 23 files.

Vietnam sent the file of Xoan singing to UNESCO in March 2010 and received comments of international experts in August 2011. Experts highly appreciated the values of Xoan singing and the effort of the local community in preserving this heritage in recent years. They recommended UNESCO to recognize Xoan singing as an intangible heritage.

Xoan singing is a vocal art of villages in the ancestral land of Phu Thọ. This genre of singing is usually performed in front of the communal house during the village festivals in the spring.

Based on legends and historical, archeological and social records, researchers say Xoan singing first appeared a long time ago, from the time when the Hung Kings established the nation.

In the coming time, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will map out specific and long-term programs and plans to preserve and develop the world’s newly-recognized heritage, said Deputy Director of the Cultural Heritage Nguyen Huu Toan.

Son Ha