Vietnam’s Dong Ho folk woodblock painting craft is among 68 nominations from 78 countries being reviewed at the 20th session. The folk art was inscribed on the list of national intangible cultural heritages by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in December 2012.

Originating in Dong Ho village, Bac Ninh province, the craft features hand-printed woodblock paintings depicting daily life in northern Vietnam. The works use natural pigments, but the tradition has been declining due to changing consumer tastes and reduced market demand.

The paintings were once known as “Tet paintings” because they were traditionally produced at the end of the lunar year for household decoration and worship during the Lunar New Year. They were sold at annual markets held at the communal house of Dong Ho village on the 6th, 11th, 16th, 21st and 26th days of the final lunar month, where thousands of works were displayed.

Demand has declined over the past years due to shifting tastes and competition from mass-produced prints, leaving the tradition at risk of fading away. In response, Bac Ninh province has opened the Dong Ho Folk Painting Conservation Centre to safeguard the craft and promote it as part of the cultural and creative economy. The centre exhibits woodblocks, tools and archival materials, and recreates a traditional “Dong Ho painting market.”

Bac Ninh authorities, in cooperation with Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, have submitted a nomination to UNESCO for inscription on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. The province has also promoted the craft overseas, including in Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and the United States.

During a working session with Vietnamese officials in April 2025, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Ernesto Renato Ottone Ramirez praised efforts to document, preserve and promote the craft. He said UNESCO values traditional cultural heritage and will review the submission once it fully meets the requirements.

Vietnam showcases Dong Ho folk paintings in Paris, seeking UNESCO's recognition

Bac Ninh province, in collaboration with the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have successfully hosted an event in Paris showcasing Vietnam’s rich cultural values and pushing for UNESCO recognition of Dong Ho folk paintings as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding this year.