Folk songs and melodies will be a means of promoting Nghe An province.

(Baonghean) - On the sidelines of the press conference honoring Nghe Tinh folk songs as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, a reporter from Nghe An Newspaper had a conversation with Mr. Nguyen Manh Thang - Deputy Secretary General of the Vietnam National UNESCO Committee - about the opportunities and challenges facing Nghe Tinh folk songs after becoming a cultural heritage of humanity.

- Being in Paris (France) at the moment UNESCO officially recognized the Ví and Giặm folk songs as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, what were your feelings when the gavel sounded to honor the Ví and Giặm folk songs?

- When the UNESCO gavel sounded, we couldn't hide our joy and emotion. Everyone in the Vietnamese delegation rushed forward, the national flag fluttering in the hall. Members of the Intergovernmental Committee and delegations from other countries also ran to shake hands and hug each member of the Vietnamese delegation to share in the joy. We will always remember the Belgian delegation publicly stating that many members of their delegation had visited Nghe An, heard folk songs, and that today this genre of music was being honored was entirely deserved. That was a joy not only for the members of the Vietnamese delegation but also for the people of Nghe An, and for the whole country.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Thang answers questions from reporters.

- The process for any folk song genre from any country to be honored in this way cannot be said to be easy… What are the “weaknesses” and “strengths” in the dossier of Nghe Tinh folk songs when submitted to UNESCO, sir?

- The biggest challenge is collecting, promoting, and introducing the folk songs of Nghe Tinh to the world, while simultaneously building a dossier according to the correct standards. I think that the folk songs of Nghe Tinh are already very worthy of becoming a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, so they don't have any weaknesses. According to the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the nomination dossier for the folk songs of Nghe Tinh meets all five criteria to become a representative heritage.

The first,This art form has been passed down from generation to generation within the Nghe Tinh community, occupying an important place in the cultural and spiritual life of the people, reflecting their cultural identity and expressing their thoughts and feelings in their own way.

Monday,The inclusion of Nghe Tinh folk songs (Vi and Giam) in the "representative list" can contribute to promoting awareness of intangible cultural heritage through increased interest in folk songs, encouraging tolerance and empathy among ethnic groups and communities, and fostering dialogue among artisans of different musical styles.

TuesdayThe proposed protection measures, including raising awareness, education, and promotion, are supported financially by state and local authorities to ensure the sustainability of heritage practices, demonstrating the commitment and will of the government and community in protecting heritage.

Wednesday,The nomination dossier was developed with the voluntary participation of the community, local authorities, professional organizations, experts, and a shared commitment to protection.

Thursday,The heritage has been inventoried by the Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts with the participation and contributions of the community; and was included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2012 by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam. All five criteria were recognized by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO in Decision 9.COM 10.46. Delegations and council members also highly appreciated the dossier of Nghe Tinh folk songs. This is a testament to our efforts in introducing and promoting them to the world.

- Being honored is difficult, but preserving that title and promoting the heritage is even more challenging. The current state of heritage preservation in Vietnam is fraught with shortcomings. Could you elaborate on the opportunities and challenges for Nghe Tinh folk songs (Vi and Giam) after being recognized by UNESCO?

Video clip of Mr. Nguyen Manh Thang's interview:

- Speaking of opportunities, being recognized means that the names of Nghe An and Ha Tinh, known as "vi giam" and "giam," will become known internationally, not only as regions with a revolutionary tradition but also as regions rich in cultural heritage. The working people and their folk songs and melodies will become known to the whole world, becoming a shared heritage. Through this recognition, the world will learn about Nghe An, tourists will come to enjoy this unique form of folk music, and we will have the opportunity to promote the culture and potential of this land of outstanding people. Through UNESCO, countries and organizations around the world will support the development of this art form… However, there are also many challenges.

Currently, the Ví and Giặm folk songs are no longer the property of the people of Nghe An and Ha Tinh, but belong to the whole world. Therefore, the people and the government must take measures to preserve and promote these traditional values. UNESCO requires us to develop an action plan to better preserve and promote them. We must continue to train artisans and promote the inclusion of folk songs in schools so that future generations can continue to develop this heritage to new heights. It's important to know that UNESCO will not provide funding for the development of Ví and Giặm folk songs just because they are recognized, as UNESCO is not a financial institution… But I am confident that the path Nghe An and Ha Tinh are taking is the right one. And this path has been supported and recognized by UNESCO.

Thank you for this conversation!

Nguyen Khoa(Perform)