That was the statement by deputy minister Trinh Thi Thuy during a meeting with Michael Croft, the UNESCO representative in Vietnam on Tuesday.

Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy meets the UNESCO representative in Vietnam, Michael Croft, on Tuesday, discussing cultural cooperation in 2020. — Photo toquoc.vn

The meeting, which was held on Tuesday, aimed to discuss the co-operation between the ministry and UNESCO office in Hanoi in 2020.

During the event, the deputy minister also expressed her hope that UNESCO would continue to have a specific roadmap and pay more concern to the preservation and promotion of Vietnam’s intangible cultural heritages.

She also informed Croft about the preparation for receiving UNESCO’s titles granted to Then singing by the Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic communities, which was recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the 14th meeting of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage on December 12.

According to Thuy, the recognition ceremony will be held in September, which is expected to receive the support and participation of the UNESCO office in Hanoi.

Regarding conservation, Thuy affirmed that Vietnam always made great efforts to combine the conservation of heritage and cultural values with sustainable tourism development. Accordingly, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism was implementing specific plans and actions in cooperation with UNESCO to promote the original cultures of ethnic minorities in association with sustainable tourism development.

In terms of dealing with COVID-19, the deputy minister emphasised that Vietnam was properly controlling the epidemic and remains a safe destination for tourists.

“Some localities across the country are preparing to declare the end of the epidemic. It has been over four days that Vietnam has not detected new cases,” she stated.

In terms of sports, Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism expected UNESCO to provide expert advice on the preservation of traditional sports. If the preservation is effective, Vietnam hoped that those sports would be integrated into international competitions to promote the nation's traditional sports.

Applauding the recent achievements of the ministry, the UNESCO representative in Vietnam praised Vietnam’s efforts in preserving cultures according to UNESCO’s Cultural Conventions.

He affirmed that UNESCO and its office in Hanoi would be willing to coordinate with Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in carrying out tasks, particularly in promoting and preserving heritages according to the convention that Vietnam followed; developing sustainable tourism in association with the national targets and developing creative and cultural industries.
Croft also stated that Vietnam needed a companion in highlighting cultural programmes and therefore, the UNESCO office in Hanoi was willing to take on such a role. — VNS

UNESCO accompanies Vietnam in protecting cultural heritages

The UNESCO has been accompanying Vietnam in protecting, preserving, and promoting the country’s cultural heritages. The goal is to create a future based on the bond between past and present.

Then singing becomes part of intangible cultural heritages of humanity

The Then singing practice of Vietnam’s Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic groups has been named on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Department of Cultural Heritage said on December 13.