>> Vietnam\'s Saint Giong Festival receives UNESCO cultural heritage status

Vietnam held a ceremony on January 22 to officially receive certification from UNESCO for the Saint Giong Festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Hanoi’s municipal government and the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO helped to organise the ceremony in Phu Dong, Gia Lam district.

UNESCO gave a notification for the festival in both the Phu Dong Temple, and Soc Son Temple (in Soc Son district) on November 11, 2010.

The ceremony drew the participation of UNESCO Chief Representative in Vietnam, Katherine Muller Marin, from 400 to 500 officials and between 7,000 and 8,000 locals.

The ceremony featured the important traditional parts of the Saint Giong Festival, staged by people of the villages.

The performance including about 500 people featured Mua co (literally translated as dancing with flags), as well as two traditional games, Cuop chieu, and Keo chu.

Ceremony in Phu Dong Temple

Official attendees

Festival resurgent at the event

UNESCO-certified

Official recognition

Votive rituals at Soc Temple