'Ba Chua Xu Mountain Sam Festival' recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage

According to a VNA correspondent in France, citing information from the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), at 9:48 a.m. (local time, 7:48 p.m. Vietnam time) on December 4, in the capital Asunción, Paraguay, within the framework of the 19th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage 2003, the Festival of Ba Chua Xu of Sam Mountain of Vietnam was officially recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Photo caption — The Vietnamese delegation attended the 19th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Asuncion (Paraguay). Photo: VNA

The Ba Chua Xu Festival on Sam Mountain is a traditional festival that has been preserved and practiced for many generations in Chau Doc, An Giang, taking place from the 22nd to the 27th day of the fourth lunar month in the Ba Chua Xu Temple on Sam Mountain and the stone pedestal area on Sam Mountain. The festival is imbued with the culture of the Southern region, demonstrating the identity and continuity of the Vietnamese community in the process of cultural exchange with the Khmer, Chinese, and Cham communities. The festival honoring Ba Chua Xu is also an occasion for people to express their love, gratitude, and respect for those who have contributed to the people and the country. In 2014, the festival was included in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Speaking at the meeting, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, said that the recognition of the Ba Chua Xu Festival on Sam Mountain by UNESCO is a testament to the diverse, long-standing culture imbued with Vietnamese identity. At the same time, this recognition has important significance, contributing positively to the work of preserving and promoting heritage values at both national and international levels. As Vice Chairman of the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention, Vietnam is committed to always making efforts to preserve and promote the values of this heritage as well as other cultural heritages to pass on to future generations.

On behalf of the locality owning the heritage, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the An Giang Provincial Party Committee Le Hong Quang expressed his emotion and honor when the Ba Chua Xu Festival of Sam Mountain was recognized by UNESCO; sent thanks to UNESCO, the Convention Secretariat, the appraisal agencies and the committee members for their valuable support and assistance; affirmed to spread this joy and pride to the community of An Giang province and committed to working with the community to best protect and promote the value of this cultural heritage, ensuring connection with sustainable development goals. With this recognition, the Ba Chua Xu Festival of Sam Mountain became the 16th intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam recognized by UNESCO, the second intangible cultural heritage of the Southern region (along with the art of Southern amateur music) and the first traditional festival of the Southern region to receive this honor. This affirms the international appreciation of heritage, promotes the diversity, value and identity of Vietnamese culture in the general cultural picture of humanity and is also another contribution of Vietnam to the goal of preserving and promoting heritage values that UNESCO is promoting. The registration will also create more resources for preserving and promoting heritage values, supporting economic and cultural development in a sustainable and inclusive direction at the local level and in the community.

The dossier of the Ba Chua Xu Festival on Sam Mountain meets all 5 criteria and is one of the dossiers highly appreciated for its quality. This is the result of the efforts and close coordination over the past time of the community and the government of An Giang province with the professional advice of heritage experts, the active and effective direction of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the coordinating role of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to UNESCO in proposing, selecting ideas, completing and mobilizing the dossier. The 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO is expected to continue until December 7 in the capital city of Asuncion, Paraguay. The meeting will gather the participation of nearly 1,000 delegates from 120 member countries of the Convention to discuss key issues related to intangible cultural heritage. This session is expected to register 63 new intangible cultural heritages from around the world.