Dossier of Via Ba Chua Xu festival approved for submission to UNESCO
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has approved the submission of the dossier of the Via Ba Chua Xu festival in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang for UNESCO's recognition as intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
At a ritual procession of the goddess statue from the top of Sam mountain to the shrine as part of the festival. (Photo: baoangiang.com.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime MinisterVu Duc Dam has approved the submission of the dossier of the Via Ba Chua Xufestival in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang for UNESCO's recognition as intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
He assigned the Minister of Culture, Sports,and Tourism to sign the dossier in line with regulations.
The Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO wastasked with being in charge of the submission and working with the ministry tocomplete all necessary procedures for sending the dossier to UNESCO prior toMarch 31.
The Via Ba Chua Xu festival honours the holylady of Mount Sam in An Giang’s Chau Doc city. It annually takes place from the22nd to the 27th of the fourth lunar month.
The event goes through a number of rituals, most importantly the rite of statuebathing on the opening day. According to a popular mythology, the goddessstatue was discovered on the top of Mount Sam, and then carried to the foot ofthe mountain, where she has been housed and worshipped until today.
The festival also features a range of culturalactivities, including musical concerts, a dragon-dance performance, and a boatrace.
It was recognised as national intangibleheritage in late 2014./.
The administration of Chau Doc city, the Mekong Delta province of An Giang, is asking for the Government’s opinion on the compilation of a dossier seeking UNESCO’s recognition of the Ba Chua Xu Temple Festival on Sam Mountain as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has assigned the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to work with relevant agencies on the preparation of dossiers on two of Vietnam’s intangible cultural heritages for UNESCO recognition.
Ba Chua Xu festival on Nui Sam (Sam Mountain) in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang is a special spiritual belief of locals in the southern river region.
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At a ritual procession of the goddess statue from the top of Sam mountain to the shrine as part of the festival. (Photo: baoangiang.com.vn) 
