Bai Choi singing earns UNESCO recognition

Those in attendance were also Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam together with leaders of ministries, sectors and provinces, and representatives of UNESCO Vietnam.

In his address, PM Phuc congratulated the artisans artists, compatriots and leaders of Binh Dinh province and along with 8 other provinces and cities of Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien - Hue, Danang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa on the recognition of the international community.

The recognition of Bai Choi singing, a popular folklore style of singing in central Vietnam as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, has contributed to introducing the diligence and creativity of the people of central Vietnam to international friends, Phuc said while highlighting the folk music genre in Vietnam’s central region which helps to connect the community. 

By recognizing Bai Choi singing as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, the world community reconfirmed Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage and acknowledged Vietnam’s contributions to further enriching the cultural heritage of humanity. 

He called for greater combined efforts to maintain and preserve Bai Choi singing as it is now the common asset of the humanity.

At the ceremony, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien also announced a national action programme on protecting and promoting the intangible cultural heritage of Bai Choi singing under which, a string of activities will be launched to promote and popularize the values of the folk music genre.

To mark the occasion, as many as 400 artisans and singers from nine central provinces with Bai Choi singing heritage gave a joint art performance programme featuring the development of Bai Choi singing.

The folk singing genre is popular in the central provinces of Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa, and Danang city. 

With 12 intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO, Vietnam is now placed eight out of 177 member nations of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Earlier, the recognition of Bai Choi singing was made during the 12th session of the UNESCO Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Jeju, the Republic of Korea (RoK),  late last year.