Wallet and Giam will be the means of promoting Nghe An.

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

- Being present in Paris (France) at the moment when UNESCO officially recognized Vi and Giam folk songs as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity, how did you feel when the gavel rang out honoring Vi and Giam folk songs?

- When the UNESCO gavel sounded, we could not hide our joy and emotion, everyone in the Vietnamese delegation rushed up, the national flag fluttered 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 the joy. We will always remember the Belgian delegation publicly stating that many members of the delegation had come to Nghe An, listened to folk songs and today this genre of music was honored, which was completely deserved. That was the joy not only of the members of the Vietnamese delegation but also of the community of Nghe An people, of the whole country.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Thang answered reporters' questions.

- The process for a folk song genre of any country to be honored like that cannot be said to be easy... What are the "weaknesses" and "strengths" in the dossier of Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs when submitted to UNESCO, sir?

- The biggest difficulty is to collect, promote, introduce to international friends, and at the same time build a dossier according to the correct standards. I think that Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs themselves are worthy of becoming a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, so they have no weaknesses. According to the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the nomination dossier for Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs meets all 5 criteria to become a representative heritage.

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

Monday,The inclusion of Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs in the “representative list” could contribute to promoting awareness of intangible cultural heritage through attention to folk songs, encouraging tolerance and empathy among ethnic groups and communities, and dialogue between artists of different musical styles.

Tuesday, protection measures including awareness raising, education and promotion are proposed with financial support from state and local agencies to ensure the sustainability of heritage practices, demonstrating the commitment and will of the government and community in protecting heritage.

Wednesday,The nomination profile is built with the voluntary participation of the community, local authorities, specialized 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 contribution of the community; and was decided by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam to be included in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2012. All 5 criteria above were recorded by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO in Decision 9.COM 10.46. The delegations and council members also highly appreciated the dossier of Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam Folk Songs. This is our effort in introducing and promoting to the world.

- Being honored is difficult, preserving the title and promoting the heritage is even more difficult, the current situation of preserving heritage in Vietnam is currently facing many shortcomings. Can you clarify the opportunities and challenges of Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs after being honored by UNESCO?

Video clip interview with Mr. Nguyen Manh Thang:

- Talking about opportunities, when being honored, the names Vi, Giam, Nghe An, Ha Tinh will be known to international friends not only as a land of revolutionary tradition but also as a land rich in cultural tradition. The working people with their verses and Vi melodies are known to all mankind and become the common property of all mankind. Through the registration, the world will know about Nghe An, tourists will come to enjoy this unique folk song, from there we have the opportunity to promote culture, promote the potential of this land of talented people. Through UNESCO, there will be countries and organizations in the world supporting the development of this art form... But, there are also many challenges.

Currently, Vi and Giam folk songs are no longer the property of Nghe An and Ha Tinh people but belong to the whole world. In particular, the people and the government must have measures to preserve and promote traditional values. UNESCO requires us to develop an action plan to preserve and promote them better. We must continue to train artisans and promote folk songs in schools so that the next generation can continue to develop the heritage to new heights. It is necessary to know that, if honored, UNESCO will not provide finance to develop Vi and Giam folk songs, because UNESCO is not a financial agency... But I firmly believe that the path that Nghe An and Ha Tinh are taking is the right direction. And this path has been supported and honored by UNESCO.

- Thank you for this conversation!

Nguyen Khoa(Perform)