Programme to honour Vi, Giam singing – world intangible heritage

The central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh in Viernam will co-host a programme on January 31 to honour the local Vi-Giam folk singing which was inscribed as part of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage in November.

The programme will be broadcast live on Viet Nam Television (VTV1 and VTV4), the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced at a press conference in Ha Noi on December 25.

Vice Chairwoman of the Nghe An provincial People’s Committee Dinh Thi Le Thanh said local authorities from the two provinces will work together to outline a project preserving and promoting the folk singing in 2015-2020 with a vision to 2020-2030.

At the same time, the provinces will promote the popularization of the singing via schools and the media while developing a network of singing clubs, she said, adding that policies will be devised to honour and support folk artists.

Vi-Giam folk singing was officially recognised by UNESCO as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity at the 9th session of its Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Paris on November 27.

This type of folk singing is popular in nearly 260 villages in the central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh. The two provinces have 51 singing clubs with over 800 vocalists, many of whom are actively preserving the folk music.

There are an estimated 15 tunes of Vi and 8 airs of Giam, reflecting the work, cultural life and feelings of residents in the central coastal provinces.

Vi-Giam became the ninth Vietnamese cultural practice winning UNESCO’s intangible heritage status. The other eight practices recognised by UNESCO are Hue 's royal court music, Gong space culture in Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands), the northern province of Bac Ninh's love duet singing, the Giong festival, Ca Tru ceremonial singing, Xoan singing, Don Ca Tai Tu music and the worship of Hung Kings.