VietNamNet Bridge – At the request of the UNESCO, Vietnam will be allowed to submit only one intangible cultural heritage and two tangible heritage profiles to this organization. The country is urged to preserve its existing world heritages.

Foreign experts discuss intangible cultural heritage preservation

The sadness of heritage

Bai choi singing in Hoi An ancient town.

Accordingly, the profile of don ca tai tu (southern folk songs) was complete in 2011 but it will be sent to the UNESCO later this year. Next year Vietnam will submit the profile of Trang An beauty spot in Ninh Binh province.

Dr. Duong Bich Hanh, from the Hanoi UNESCO Office, said that under UNESCO’s regulations, each year a country cannot submit more than two heritage profiles. Every year, it considers only 45 profiles worldwide. Thus, if Vietnam submits two records, UNESCO will likely return one.

“The countries without world heritages and those that joined the convention in the last 10 years will be given priority to submit more profiles. Vietnam is not in the list of priority so it can submit only one profile," she analyzed.

She added that on a global scale, the rate of cultural heritages is higher compared to the natural and mixed heritages. "Vietnam should submit profiles of natural heritages or mixed heritages. For example, the profile for Trang An is compiled under the standards of natural and cultural site," Hanh said.

After the heritage title

An expert (on condition of anonymity) said that the UNESCO’s new regulations on the number of applications for heritage titles is good because it makes the authorities of the provinces that seek the world heritage title for their cultural and natural heritages, to look back to see what's behind the title that they have to "race" to be the only one candidate.

According to Dr. Nguyen The Hung, UNESCO reminded Vietnam twice of the management of cultural heritages in the heritage council meetings. Accordingly, Hue and Ha Long Bay were included in the list of world heritage sites with management matters.

However, besides Hue and Ha Long, there are other heritages having problems in the management but the information has not been exposed yet. For example, quan ho or Bac Ninh love duets were performed in groups or xam singers who were not blind but wore sunglasses to disguise as blinds are considered the offence to these arts. We still have too many bad cultural practices.

If Vietnam does not well manage and preserve its current heritages, UNESCO may withdraw the title.

An expert from the Culture Research Institute said that UNESCO has a list of well-preserved heritages but Vietnam does not pay attention to this. “We are in the situation that after one heritage is recognized by the UNESCO, we are hurried to prepare another heritage profile. Meanwhile, preserving heritages is preferred by UNESCO," the expert said.

P. Linh