Additional 14 people in the northern province of Phu Tho have been presented with the "Xoan singing artisan” title in recognition of their contributions to preserving and promoting the value of the UNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritage.
Phu Tho has additional 14 Xoan singing artisans (Source:
phutho.gov.vn)
Speaking at a ceremony on November 23, Vice Chairman of the
provincial People’s Committee Ho Dai Dung said that the 14 newly-recognised
artisans are prestigious and expert in the musical art.
To date, Phu Tho has 66 Xoan singing artisans recognised by the State,
including 20 Meritorious Artists.
Closely linked to the worship of Hung Kings, Xoan singing is a religious
practice rooted in the ancestor worship of the Vietnamese people. It is
traditionally performed during the first two months of the lunar calendar in
holy places such as temples, sanctuaries and communal houses.
There are three forms of Xoan singing: worship singing for the Hung kings and
village guardian spirits; ritual singing for good crops, health and luck, and
festival singing where villagers alternate male and female voices in a form of
courtship.
The Vietnamese musical tradition was inscribed on the UNESCO List of Intangible
Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2011 due to declining
appreciation of this tradition, notably among young people.
The performing art was transferred to the Representative List of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2017 in recognition of efforts by the
local communities and the national authorities to reinforce the viability of
Xoan singing.
Phu Tho now has 34 Xoan singing clubs with 1,557 members.
Source: VNA
Hoa Binh province has carried out multiple programmes and initiatives to revive its cultural heritage which has gradually fallen into oblivion through the ebbs and flows of history.
The most prominent and defining feature in the prehistoric era of Hoa Binh is the Hoa Binh Culture. The Culture was first discovered in Hoa Binh. The significant prehistoric culture represents not only Vietnam but also Southeast Asia and southern China. Through excavations of cave sites in the limestone regions of Hoa Binh, French archaeologist M. Colani introduced the world to a "Stone Age in Hoa Binh province – Northern Vietnam" in 1927. On January 30, 1932, the First Congress of Far Eastern Prehistorians, held in Hanoi, officially recognised the Hoa Binh Culture.
Known as the "Land of Epic History”, Hoa Binh province, the gateway to Vietnam’s northwest, boasts a strategic location and a unique cultural tapestry woven by its ethnic minority communities.
The People's Committee of Luong Son District recently held a ceremony to receive the certificate recognizing Sau Communal House in Thanh Cao Commune as a provincial-level historical and cultural site.
Recognising the importance of cultural heritage preservation in protecting and promoting the value system of Vietnamese culture, and serving socio-economic development in the new period, Party committees and local administrations in Hoa Binh province have identified it as a key task in the cultural development strategy. The province has been making efforts in mobilising resources, creating consensus among people and engaging ethnic communities in preserving and promoting cultural identity.
Hoa Binh province has captured growing attention both domestically and internationally for its distinctive cultural heritage and rich history. Most notably, it has been renowned for its famous Hoa Binh culture, considered the cradle of ancient Vietnamese civilisation. Looking ahead to significant milestones in 2025 and the 140th anniversary of province establishment in 2026, Hoa Binh Newspaper presents a comprehensive overview of the province's development across economic, social, cultural, tourism, and security domains.
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