A programme is jointly held by the central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh on January 31 to receive the UNESCO certification for local Vi-Giam folk singing as part of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage.

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.

The folk music is a repartee singing while working. It reflects the work, cultural life and feelings of the residents in the central coastal provinces.

It 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.

The preservation is currently facing a number of problems since fewer residents sing this genre of music and many of the documentaries relating to the singing were lost.

Therefore, Nghe An province plans to introduce the singing in schools and its external activities along with organising regular singing programmes in tourism areas.

In an effort to preserve Vi-Giam singing, on January 31, the Nghe An’s People’s Committee held a ceremony to honour individuals who made great contribution to the preserving and upholding the folk music.

Local authorities from the two provinces will work together to outline a project preserving and promoting the folk singing in 2015-2020.

VNA