A ceremony was held in Thach Ban ward, Hanoi’s Long Bien district on April 7 to receive a certificate of UNESCO recognition of the sitting tug-of-war games and rituals at local Tran Vu temple as part of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Tug-of-war is typically held near a communal house or shrine, two teams on either end of a rope try to tug it from the other. (Photo: nhandan.com.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – A ceremony was heldin Thach Ban ward, Hanoi’s Long Bien district on April 7 to receive acertificate of UNESCO recognition of the sitting tug-of-war games and ritualsat local Tran Vu temple as part of the Representative List of the IntangibleCultural Heritage.
The ceremony took place within the annualtraditional festival of Tran Vu temple.
On this occasion, Nguyen Van Se, who hasgreatly contributed to preserving the folk games and rituals, was presented withthe President’s decision recognising him as an outstanding artisan.
Apart from Vietnam, tug-of-war games andrituals of Cambodia, the Republic of Korea and the Philippines also won UNESCO recognition.
A Vietnamese delegation is scheduled tovisit the RoK in mid-April to engage in exchanges with local tug-of-war teams.
Tug-of-warrituals and games are prevalent in the rice-farming cultures of East Asia andSoutheast Asia as a form for communities to pray for abundant harvests andprosperity. They mark the start of the agricultural cycle and often begin withcommemorative rites to local deities.
Typically held near a communal house or shrine,two teams on either end of a rope try to tug it from the other. The practice isnon-competitive, strengthening community solidarity and identity, UNECO said onits website.-VNA
Tugging rituals and games of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea were performed at Tran Vu temple in Long Bien district, Hanoi during an exchange held on November 23.
An unusual game, the sitting tug-of-war, is considered to be a spiritual ritual in the Tran Vu temple festival in Ngoc Tri village, Long Bien district, Hanoi.
The ambassador noted that among the 300,000 Vietnamese residing in the RoK, around 3,000 are living in Pyeongtaek and contributing actively to the local economy. Ho expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue support the overseas Vietnamese community in the city.
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.
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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.
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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.
Tug-of-war is typically held near a communal house or shrine, two teams on either end of a rope try to tug it from the other. (Photo: nhandan.com.vn) 
