Traditional lacquer craft urged to seek UNESCO heritage status
Vietnam will join the compilation of a multinational dossier to seek UNESCO’s recognition of the traditional craft of “son mai” (lacquer) as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage.
Final touches are put on lacquer paintings (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has just instructed that Vietnam will join the compilation of a multinational dossier to seek UNESCO’s recognition of the traditional craft of “son mai” (lacquer) as part of 🐼the world’s intangible cultural heritage.
The Deputy PM assigned the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) to be in charge and work with relevant ministries, sectors and agencies to join the Republic of Korea (RoK) and other nations that boast traditional lacquer techniques to design the dossier and ask for the Prime Minister’s permis sion to seek the UNESCO status.
On September 16, 2015, the RoK’s Cultural Heritage Administration sent a letter to the MCST to ask for coordination in building a multinational dossier seeking UNESCO’s recognition of the art of lacquer as part of the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
The ministry cited the RoK as saying that China and Japan could also join in the compilation.
Vietnamese “son mai” is a traditional handicraft first used during Vietnam's feudal era. Son mai painting has evolved over time, especially during the 1930s when artists and students at L'Ecole des Beaux Art d'Indochine (Indochina Fine Arts School) resurrected the medium, fusing it with French techniques and positioning it as a fine art.
The medium gets its name from sap extracted from the “son” tree that inhabits the mountains of the northern province of Phu Tho.
If permission is given, this will be the second time Vietnam will have joined in the compilation of a multinational dossier.
Previously, Vietnam coordinated with Cambodia, the RoK and the Philippines to build a dossier for the tugging rituals and games (a tug-of-war ritual practiced as a prayer for a good harvest), which was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015.-VNA
As many as 42 lacquer paintings by 14 Vietnamese artists are being showcased in an exhibition at the Ganaisa Art Centre in the capital city of the Republic of Korea (RoK) from July 15 to 20.
A Vietnam-RoK lacquer exhibition is taking place at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in Hanoi from November 30 to December 12, according to Quan doi Nhan dan (People’s Army) newspaper.
The Republic of Korea’s artist Jin Su-jang was intrigued by the Vietnamese son mai paintings she saw when she came to Hanoi to showcase her own Korean ottchil artworks at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.
The Vietnam Fine Arts Exhibition, opened in Hanoi from December 9 - 23, are showcasing 409 pieces, created from 2011 to 2015, to give the public an overview on a period of the Vietnamese fine arts.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
The cultural event in Canberra not only fostered cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Australia but also contributed to promoting Vietnam’s image internationally
Final touches are put on lacquer paintings (Photo: VNA)
