Twenty years ago, Vietnam’s Hue imperial relic complex was the first to
be recognised by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site and since
then, the number of Vietnam’s recognised heritage items has been on the
rise, including natural, tangible, intangible and documentary heritage,
radio The Voice of Vietnam (VOV) reports.
To date,
Vietnam has had 17 world-recognised heritage items. The first
recognition was given the Hue imperial relic complex in 1992. Ha Long
Bay was twice listed as world heritage in 1994 and 2000. Hoi An ancient
town and My Son sanctuary received the honor in 1999, followed by the
Hue Royal Court music in 2003 and the Central Highlands gongs in 2005.
Over the last five years, Hanoi’s Royal citadel and the Ho Dynasty’s
citadel won the world recognition.
Intangible
cultural heritage namely Tru singing, Quan Ho folk singing, Giong
festival, Xoan singing and the Worshipping rituals of the Hung Kings
were also listed as world heritage. The Nguyen dynasty’s woodblocks,
Vinh Nghiem pagoda’s woodblocks and 82 steles of doctorate degree
holders from 1442 to 1779 have been included.
The
world’s recognition plays a significant role in heritage preservation.
Doctor Dang Van Bai, Vice President of the Vietnam Cultural Heritage
Association, told VOV: “The title of world cultural and natural
heritage is a noble honor. But it entails great national responsibility
and duties. UNESCO’s convention on the protection of heritage is aimed
at enhancing community’s awareness of the role and significance of
heritage in the life of humankind. It also confirms national duties in
preserving national cultural heritage as part of world heritage”.
The UNESCO recognition also helps boost economic development. The
authorities of localities have initiated many program to promote
heritage such as the Ha Long Tourism Year, Hue Festival, Quang
Nam-Heritage Journey, and Hoi An’s full-moon festival. Many unique
tourism products have been developed such as orchard tours, Cham island
tours, and tours of traditional handcraft villages. These tourism
products not only generate jobs for locals but also contribute
investment capital to heritage restoration and management.
Community plays an important role in the preservation of heritage. Bac
Ninh province, home to world-recognised Quan Ho folk singing, has made
strenuous efforts in involving the community in heritage preservation
and promotion. Bac Ninh has carried out 14 programs on communications,
identification and revision of heritage and honoring artisans. Nguyen
Van Quyen, a resident of Diem village, the homeland of Quan Ho singing,
has just finished his 2,000-page book of 1,000 Quan Ho folk songs that
he has collected over the past five decades.
He told VOV:
“When the elderly villagers died, they brought with them all the
legacies. That’s why we now need to be passionate to Quan Ho and
preserve it. As Quan Ho has been recognised by the world, it should be
popularised among the people”.
World heritage in
Vietnam is not only for enjoyment but also a cultural resource of the
community. The State needs to adopt policies and plans of action that
encourage the community’s participation in making heritage alive.-VNA