“Then” singing seeks UNESCO recognition as cultural heritage

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has passed an overall plan to compose a national dossier to nominate “Then” singing of the Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic groups as intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

The dossier will follow model ICH-O2 for intangible cultural heritage of humanity in accordance with the 2003 UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage.

The Viet Nam National Academy of Music is responsible for scientific content. Other composers include the communities of the Tay, Nung, Thai ethnic minorities, the People’s Committees and Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tuyen Quang, Bac Kan, Bac Giang, Cao Bang, Dien Bien, Ha Giang, Lai Chau, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Quang Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Yen Bai, the Agency for Cultural Heritage, and the Vietnamese Folklore Arts Association (VFAA).

The dossier is composed between May 4, 2015 and February 28, 2016.

Then singing, which was added to an official list of the nation’s intangible cultural heritage in 2012, is a distinctive musical genre and a special combination of the spiritual and cultural life of the Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic groups in Viet Nam.

Viet Nam is currently home to seven examples of world intangible heritage listed by UNESCO: Hue's royal court music; Gong space culture in the Central Highlands; Quan ho (love duet) singing; the Giong festival; Ca Tru ceremonial singing; Xoan singing; and the Worship of the Hung Kings.