Linkages should be enhanced in preserving and promoting intangible cultural heritages

Along with this trend, the recognition of inter-provincial and inter-regional heritages in Vietnam has also begun to mobilise resources for better protection and promotion of heritage values.

The close collaboration and linkage to protect multinational intangible cultural heritages has been demonstrating a common trend in cooperation and efforts to protect heritages at a global level.

From multinational cooperation efforts…

In 2013, Vietnam, the RoK, Cambodia and the Philippines joined in developing a multinational heritage dossier of tug-of-war rituals and games. This multinational intangible cultural heritage profile was recognised by UNESCO as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This is also the only multinational heritage of Vietnam to date.

For the category of multinational intangible heritage, with the coordination and development of dossiers among the countries, the annual number of reviews and votes is not limited.

Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van, head of the Vietnamese Permanent Delegation to UNESCO

Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van, head of the Vietnamese Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, said the number of intangible cultural heritages from the countries proposed for UNESCO’s recognition is too large. Meanwhile, according to UNESCO's regulations, each country can only propose one dossier for registration every two years. However, for the category of multinational intangible heritage, with the coordination and development of dossiers among the countries, the annual number of reviews and votes is not limited. Therefore, many countries are closely coordinating and connecting to develop multinational intangible cultural heritage dossiers. That shows a common trend in cooperation and joint efforts in protecting heritage at a global level.

As one of the countries with several intangible cultural heritages in Asia, Vietnam has been demonstrating efforts in protecting national intangible cultural heritages and making contributions to the picture of diverse intangible cultural assets of humanity. Although Vietnam has only taken the first steps in linking and building multinational heritage dossiers, from the general trend and effectiveness of the linkage vision, the country is aiming to develop dossiers for inter-provincial and inter-regional cultural heritages, link tangible and intangible heritages and associate the preservation with the promotion of those heritage values effectively and sustainably.

… the mechanism for developing inter-provincial heritage dossiers

In September 2023, Ha Long Bay (in Quang Ninh Province) - Cat Ba Archipelago (in Hai Phong City) became the first inter-provincial UNESCO-listed world heritage site in Vietnam. In terms of intangible heritage, Vietnam has many inter-provincial heritages registered by UNESCO, including Don ca tai tu (traditional musical art form of the south) which appears in 24 provinces and cities; Ca Tru (ceremonial singing) in 14 provinces and cities; Quan Ho (love duet) singing in Bac Ninh and Bac Giang Provinces; Then practices of Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic minority groups in northern mountainous provinces. In addition, Vietnam possesses enormous inter-regional and inter-provincial heritage treasures such as Cheo (popular opera), Mo Muong (a popular folk rite practised in funerals or rituals to pray for the good health of the Muong ethnic community) and pho (noodle soup) and banh mi (Vietnamese baguettes) in the field of cuisine.

It can be said that Vietnam has had experience in building dossiers for multinational and inter-provincial tangible and intangible cultural heritages. However, internally, the linkage among the communities of heritage protection has been very loose. The awareness of recognition has been incomplete, leading to disadvantages for the community and heritage. For example, the tug-of-war ritual was listed in the multinational profile category along with Cambodia, the RoK and the Philippines, but in Vietnam, communities protect, transmit and preserve the heritage separately. Meanwhile, since 2018, the RoK’s Tug of War Preservation Association has proactively visited and made exchanges of tug-of-war rituals at Tran Vu Temple (Hanoi). After eight years of recognition, the first Vietnam-RoK Tug-of-war Festival was held in November 2023, with the participation of nearly 500 artisans and practitioners from Lao Cai, Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh and Hanoi, and Gijisi Tug of War Association of Dangjin City (the RoK).

In 2009, Ca Tru was included in UNESCO's list of heritage sites in need of urgent protection. This type of performing art is present in 14 provinces and cities across the country, including Hanoi. Since 2016, Hanoi has focused on developing young Ca Tru talents. Currently, Hanoi has 14 Ca Tru clubs. Although Ca Tru has been revived, the number of clubs has increased, and the festivals, promotions and classes on Ca Tru have been held regularly, Ca Tru has not yet been removed from the list of heritages in need of urgent protection.

It can be seen that Vietnam has not made adequate investment in the mechanism of building multinational inter-regional and inter-provincial dossiers, and has not focused on the linkages among the localities to preserve and protect the heritages better. Dr. Le Thi Minh Ly, Vice President of the Cultural Heritage Association, said: “We are lacking a mechanism for inter-provincial and multinational heritage sites. The state has no mechanism, and research institutes have not yet developed projects to propose effective solutions to protect heritages. When the viewpoint and mechanism are not clearly defined, the localities owning heritages will be confused”.

Heritage protection needs to be seen in the relationship among the communities having common heritage, cultural regions and customs, so that there will be more multinational and inter-regional dossiers. It is important to soon have specific regulations on criteria related to the dossier, inter-regional and inter-provincial heritage management mechanisms, and rules to expand the participation of the community according to UNESCO's terms.