Chairman of the session to approve the art of Xoe Thai of Vietnam

At the meeting, members of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage assessed that the nomination dossiers of the art of Xoe Thai of Vietnam as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity met the criteria to inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In which, Xoe dance is a typical art activity of Thai people in Yen Bai, Lai Chau, Son La and Dien Bien provinces. The center of Xoe can be considered in Muong Lo (Yen Bai), Muong So (Lai Chau), Muong Lay and Dien Bien Phu city (Dien Bien), Thuan Chau (Son La).

Xoe Thai is open to everyone regardless of age, gender, social status, occupation and ethnicity. The delegates noted the raising awareness of the importance of Xoe Thai in the community, which increases the pride in cultural identity and promote solidarity among ethnic groups in Vietnam.

The nomination dossiers demonstrate broad community participation in research, documentation, and inventory in 2017- 2018 and subsequent revision of the record in 2019, with community involvement in editing.  

The application process involves the participation of state agencies, especially the Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in conjunction with representatives of cultural teams in villages, districts and towns in 4 provinces. The community consensus commitment is widely deployed, reflecting the large participation of relevant communities, groups and individuals...

Moments of suspense waiting and joy broke out when all the delegates of the Intergovernmental Committee agreed, hammered to congratulate  the art of Xoe Thai on being enrolled in the Representative List of Intangible Culture of Humanity. 

On behalf of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the community that practice Xoe Thai Art, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong and Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee of Yen Bai Do Duc Duy, representatives of the community and authorities at all levels have responded and pledged to take necessary measures to protect the values ​​of Xoe Thai Art, thanked to the Appraisal Council, members of the Intergovernmental Committee, The Secretariat for working diligently to register this heritage of Vietnam, and at the same time, affirmed that it will continue to maintain and further promote the value of Xoe Thai Art in the coming time.

At the ceremony, on behalf of the leaders of 4 provinces of Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau and Yen Bai, Mr. Do Duc Duy - Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee of  Yen Bai province affirmed that the event that UNESCO inscribed Xoe Thai Art on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is of particular significance, helping to raise awareness of the importance of the cultural heritage of communities not only in Vietnam but also in many countries around the world; promote efforts to protect intangible cultural heritage in order to preserve the individual identities of ethnic groups in the context of globalization and international integration.

Immediately after this event, Yen Bai will take the initiative with Son La, Dien Bien and Lai Chau provinces to coordinate and propose to hold a Ceremony to receive the Certificate of Registration of Xoe Thai Art on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of humanity in 2022; implement the action plan as committed in the scientific dossier submitted to UNESCO; at the same time, propose the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to advise the Prime Minister to issue specific schemes, programs and plans to continue to protect and promote the value of Xoe Thai art. From there, build and concretize the action plan of the locality with specific solutions, both immediate and long-term, with the motto of taking the people as the center and being the subject of the activities; turn heritage into assets serving the cause of economic, cultural - social development of each locality.