With more than 4,000 years of civilisation, Viet Nam possesses a rich treasury of heritage, from historical sites to intangible cultural values. These are invaluable assets of Vietnamese ethnic minority communities, part of the cultural heritage of humanity, which contribute to positioning Viet Nam’s cultural identity and brand on the international stage.

As Viet Nam operates a two-tier local government model and is accelerating digital transformation, the preservation and utilisation of heritage must aim towards building a comprehensive, inclusive and harmonious ecosystem.

After 30 years since 1993, when the Complex of Hue Monuments, the first World Heritage Site of Vietnam, was recognised by UNESCO, Vietnam has had 32 honoured heritages, including two natural heritages, one mixed heritage and 29 cultural heritages. They are invaluable assets contributing to enriching the cultural heritage treasure of mankind.

Mo Muong is a heritage containing the values of many types of folklore including literature, performance, music, dance, theatre, rituals, and folk knowledge. In particular, the words of “Mo” (a type of folk rite practised at funerals or rituals) are literary works with a huge capacity, containing human, cultural and historical values as well as the outlook on life and cosmology of the Muong ethnic people. However, Mo Muong is facing many challenges in preservation and promotion of its values.

A photo exhibition officially opened in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai on September 23 to honour the art of Xoe dance of the Thai ethnic people, which was recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity recognised by UNESCO.