Recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the new assets belong in four categories: traditional festivals, social customs and beliefs, folk performing arts and traditional handicrafts.

These activities are diversified from north to south, reflecting the rich culture of Vietnamese.

One of them, Trong Quan singing in Hung Yen province, it is a typical response folk song that dates back to the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400). It is often found in festivals and performed by boys and girls who sing call and response songs.

As such, it is less sophisticated than Quan Ho singing, another kind of folk singing that requires some degree of musical training, and is more open to participation. Trong Quan songs are often sung by children at village festivals.

Together with folk art, ritual ceremonies are also paid a lot of attention by the people for their spirituality. Moreover, the gratitude to the ancestors of Vietnamese is also shown in these events.

This ceremony is similar to the H’Mong people’s ceremony of worshipping the family in Son La province as it is the where the people pray for good luck and health for every villager and their families.

There are two stages of the festival. The first takes place yearly on August 28 and the other is held every three years, on March 13 or 23. The aim of the event is to pay their respects to their ancestors, maintain their traditions and enhance the solidarity of the community.

Another typical festival is Cua Ong Temple in Cua Ong ward, Cam Pha city, Quang Ninh province. This annual festival takes place from the second day of the first lunar month until the end of the third lunar month and is dedicated to Tran Quoc Tang (1252-1313), the third son of Tran Hung Dao (1228-1300), who defeated many enemies and brought peace to the region.

The festival is also dedicated to other generals of the Tran Dynasty (1225-1400). After the procession ceremonies, there are many folk games such as dragon dances, tug of war, human chess, boat racing, and cock fighting.

The rich soul of the people can be seen in their sophisticated craftwork created with their skillful hands. Their reputation is well known not only in the Vietnam but also abroad.

Kim Bong woodwork in Cam Kim commune, Hoi An, Quang Nam province, since the 16th century, has been making sophisticated work on furniture and houses across the country ranging from prominent buildings in Hanoi to the Hue citadel and royal tombs and most of the architectural projects during Hoi An’s heyday. The style of Kim Bong carpentry is a combination of the Cham Kingdom, China, Japan, and the talented hands of Vietnamese craftsmen.

Other assets include the traditional Luu Xa Communal House Festival in Hoa Chinh commune, Chuong My district, Hanoi; the traditional festival of Quang Lang village in Thuy Hai commune, Thai Thuy district, Thai Binh province; the ritual of celebrating the longevity of the Nung ethnic people in Na Ri district, Bac Kan province; the ceremony of recognizing the highest position (known as Tao) for shamans in the northern area of the Tay ethnic people in Na Ri district, Bac Kan province; Dao Xa village festival in Dao Xa commune, Thanh Thuy district in Phu Tho province; the traditional embroidery in Dung Tien commune, Thuong Tin district, HanoiBai Choi art festival in Da Nang; Poon Poong performance of the Muong ethnic minority group in Cao Ngoc commune, Ngoc Lac district, Thanh Hoa province; the bird’s nests in Cam Thanh commune, Hoi An and Cham islands in Quang Nam province, the coming of age recognition ceremony of the Dao ethnic minority group in Son La province; dance festival of the Dao people in Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province; Tro Tram festival in Tu Xa commune, Lam Thao district, Phu Tho province an the brocade of the Ta Oi ethnic minority group in A Luoi district, Thua Thien, Hue province.

VN Economic Times