Phu Tho (VNA) – Xoan Singing of the northern province of Phu Tho received a UNESCOcertificate of an intangible cultural heritage of humanity at a ceremony at LaiLen Shrine, Viet Tri city, Phu Tho on February 3.

The event was attendedby Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Chairman of the NationalAssembly Committee for Social Affairs Nguyen Thuy Anh, Deputy ForeignMinister, Chairman of Vietnam's National UNESCO Committee LeHoai Trung, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST) Dang ThiBich Lien, Michael Croft, head of office and UNESCO countryrepresentative to Vietnam, among others.

Addressing the ceremony,Michael Croft expressed his delight to present the certificate, underlining thatthe art form is closely associated with Hung Kings worship of Vietnamese peoplewhile helping increasing mutual cultural exchanges in the community.

He congratulated theGovernment of Vietnam, the MoCST, Vietnam's National UNESCO, localauthorities, and Xoan singing groups on their contribution to preservation ofthe art form.

For his part, DeputyPrime Minister Vu Duc Dam said Vietnam has numerous heritage honoured byUNESCO, including Xoan Singing in Phu Tho, adding that the recognition reflectsthe international community’s acknowledgment of the efforts made by theprovince and community to preserve the heritage.

Dam hailed thecontributions the artisans have made to teaching and keeping Xoan Singing inthe community, as well as the joint efforts made by ministries, sectors,UNESCO, and Phu Tho province over the past six years to compile a nationaldossier on Xoan Singing to be recognised as an intangible heritage of humanity.

On the occasion, Bui Minh Chau, Chairman of theprovincial People’s Committee approved an action plan on protecting XoanSinging in Phu Tho - the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from 2018 –2023.

Closely linked to the worship of Hung kings, Xoan singing is a religious practicerooted in the ancestor worship of the Vietnamese people. It is traditionallyperformed during the first two months of the lunar calendar in holy places suchas temples, sanctuaries and communal houses.

There are three forms of Xoan singing: worship singing for the Hungkings and village guardian spirits; ritual singing for good crops, health andluck, and festival singing where villagers alternate male and female voices ina form of courtship. 

The Vietnamese musical tradition was inscribed on the UNESCO List of IntangibleCultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2011 due to decliningappreciation of this tradition, notably among young people. 

The performing artwas transferred to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritageof Humanity in December 2017 in recognition for efforts by the localcommunities and the national authorities to reinforce the viability of Xoansinging.-VNA