Receiving UNESCO’s Certificate for Recognizing the Central Vietnam’s Bai Choi Art

Attending the ceremony were Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc; Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam; Minister - Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung; Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of UNESCO Vietnam Committee Le Hoai Trung. Attending the ceremony were also Vice Chairwoman of Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee Truong Thi Ngoc Anh and leaders of 9 provinces sharing the same heritage and a lot of people in Binh Dinh Province.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and delegates at the ceremony

Bai Choi is a form of folk art, formed and developed in the process of labor production, cultural exchange of the Vietnamese people when settling, exploring the southern region of Vietnam many centuries ago. Through the history, Bai Choi has been rooted in the soul and life of southern central region of Vietnam. From the melodies, sweet lyrics and sweet songs, Bai Choi is a special folk art in spiritual life of the people, especially 9 provinces/cities in central region of Viet Nam: Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa.

On the 7^th of December, 2017, at the 12^th Intergovernmental Commission on the Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO in Korea, Bai Choi folk art in central region of Vietnam was recognized as the intangible cultural heritage of  humanity by UNESCO. It was good news not only for provinces in the Central Region of Vietnam but also the common pride of the country.

Mr. Ho Quoc Dung, Chairman of Binh Dinh People’s Committee delivered a speech at the ceremony

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Ho Quoc Dung – Chairman of Binh Dinh People's Committee affirmed that in the coming time, 9 provinces and cities under the direction of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism would determine to effectively implement the project of preserving and promoting the heritage of Bai Choi in Central Vietnam, including: focusing on the training, annual checking and identifying the documents of the heritage, restoring the lost elements and related folk knowledge and periodically organizing the festivals. To develop educational programs, publicizing the heritage in association with tourism development. To honor individuals, clubs and communities with great contribution to the preservation, practice, transmission, protection and promotion of heritage values.

After receiving UNESCO’s certificate, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thien, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, directly handed over to the leaders and artisans of 9 provinces of Central Vietnam. On this occasion, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thien announced the National Program of Action to protect and promote the value of intangible cultural heritage of Central Vietnam (2018 - 2023) with 5 contents. The purpose of the program was to announce and call on the ministries, committees, branches, people's committees at all levels, relevant agencies and local communities of the heritage and the Vietnamese people to implement programs with the aim of sustainably protecting and effectively promoting the valuable heritage.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thien, Minister of Sport, Culture and Tourism awarded the UNESCO’s Certificate for Recognizing the central Vietnam’s Bai Choi art as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity to leaders of 9 provinces

At the ceremony, Mr. Michael Croft, Head of the UNESCO Office in Viet Nam congratulated the Government of Viet Nam, especially the 9 provinces in central Vietnam as well as the entire local community, artists and others contributed to the achievement of Bai Choi art, having recognized as the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. It was a well-deserved recognition. UNESCO appreciated the strong commitment of the Government of Vietnam in the preservation and development of Bai Choi art with specific guidelines, including the expansion of performance space, the exchanges and sharing of researches, documents and publishing of Bai Choi.

At the ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc shared the great joy along with the entire community of Central Vietnam’s Bai Choi art: "During the past 10 years, the two words of beloved Viet Nam has always been presented at UNESCO's conferences whenever a natural heritage, a cultural heritage or a memorial heritage of the Vietnamese nation is recognized and honored worldwide. This year, UNESCO honors the Central Vietnam’s Bai Choi art as the 12^th intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam and it is to honor the brave, loyal but witty people, creativity and love of poetry in the central region of Vietnam where it is full of sunniness and windiness because Bai Choi is a form of creative and entertaining folk art with a combination of music, poetry, drama, painting and literature."

The Prime Minister said that together with the pride it would be the responsibility of each of us. That was the responsibility of preserving the art of Bai Choi in the world because it is not only Vietnam's own heritage but it has become the common property of humanity. The Government of Vietnam pledged its commitment, together with artisans, artists, heritage practitioners, central and local agencies, to the serious and effective implementation of the National Program of Action for Protection and Promotion as well as other heritage recognized by UNESCO, ensuring that "What is in the community will be returned to the community" and thereby share the successful lessons of different countries having similar heritage in the world. "Let Bai Choi’s singing be heard in every family, each area of the whole region of central Vietnam, let the laughing be spread everywhere, bringing us the optimism about the position and strength of Vietnam." the Prime Minister emphasized.

The highlight of the ceremony was the art show entitled "The reputing of Bai Choi art" with the participation of 400 performers of professional artisans as well as public actors and actresses in Binh Dinh Province.

Bai Choi is recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of the humanity. The ceremony of recognizing the central Vietnam’s Bai Choi art as the intangible cultural heritage of humanity was really a great festival, the honor of people in the central provinces of Vietnam. From now, Bai Choi Arts would connect with the "The Road of Heritage Sites" to enhance the value of intangible cultural heritages in general, intangible cultural heritages in Central Vietnam in particular with the aim of contributing to enriching the nation.

By baotainguyenmoitruong.vn