The announcement was made during a press conference held by the An Giang provincial People's Committee on March 14. The ceremony is expected to attract around 2,000 participants from across the country and will feature various activities, including music performances by renowned artists.

The recognition was officially granted by UNESCO on December 4 during the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Paraguay.

The Ba Chua Xu Festival, deeply rooted in local traditions, has been preserved and celebrated for generations in Chau Doc, An Giang province. Taking place annually from the 22nd to the 27th of the fourth lunar month, the festival is held at the Ba Chua Xu Temple on Mount Sam and the stone pedestal on the mountain where the Holy Mother is worshipped.

The event not only reflects the cultural heritage of southern Vietnam but also embodies exchanges and integration with Khmer, Chinese, and Cham traditions. It serves as a significant occasion for locals to express gratitude and pay tribute to national contributors.

Prior to this UNESCO recognition, the festival was designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in 2014.

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.