The Government Office has document No. 36/VPCP-KGVX dated January 2, 2026 sent to the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST); Chairman of the People's Committees of provinces and cities: Hanoi, Hung Yen, Ninh Binh, Hai Phong to convey the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh on the preparation of scientific dossiers for the intangible cultural heritage "Pho" and "Water Puppetry" requesting to be included in the UNESCO Lists.
Accordingly, considering the proposal of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Submission No. 591/TTr-BVHTTDL dated December 18, 2025 on requesting permission to prepare a scientific dossier for the intangible cultural heritage "Pho" and "Water Puppetry" proposed to be included in the UNESCO Lists. Consensus of the People's Committees of provinces and cities: Ninh Binh (Official Dispatch No. 199/UBND-VP6 dated October 1, 2025), Hung Yen (Official Dispatch No. 1896/UBND-KGVX dated October 1, 2025) and Hai Phong (Official Dispatch No. 2596/UBND-VX dated January 11, 2025).
Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh gave the following directing opinions:
Regarding the intangible cultural heritage "Pho": Agreeing with the policy of preparing scientific dossiers of intangible cultural heritage proposed for listing on UNESCO's list; assigning the Hanoi City People's Committee to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee and localities with heritage practice communities to prepare scientific dossiers and perform relevant tasks, tasks, processes, and procedures, ensuring strictness and compliance with the law.
Regarding the intangible cultural heritage "Water Puppetry": Agreeing with the policy of preparing a scientific dossier of intangible cultural heritage proposed for listing on UNESCO's list; assigning the Hanoi City People's Committee to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Hai Phong City People's Committee, Hung Yen Provincial People's Committee and localities with heritage practice communities to prepare scientific dossiers and perform relevant tasks, tasks, processes, and procedures, ensuring strictness and compliance with the law.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, according to its assigned functions and tasks, coordinates and guides the Hanoi City People's Committee and relevant agencies and localities in preparing scientific dossiers for intangible cultural heritage to request inclusion in the UNESCO List in accordance with the provisions of law on cultural heritage and other relevant laws; ensure quality, meet requirements, criteria and related regulations of UNESCO; promptly report to competent authorities issues beyond their authority.
Previously, in 2024, the knowledge of Hanoi pho was included by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the list of national intangible cultural heritage. The pho dish in Hanoi was born in the early 20th century. From 1907-1910, pho was originally a type of street food, carried around and advertised for sale throughout the streets of Hanoi.
Water puppetry is a unique traditional art form of Vietnam, formed and developed from the activities and beliefs of rural people in the Northern region. Originating from the rice-water agricultural civilization, this stage art not only reflects folk life but has also been present in the courtroom space, holding a significant position in the flow of national culture. In 2012, water puppetry was officially recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.
To date, Vietnam has 37 heritages listed on UNESCO lists (including 9 world cultural and natural heritages, 17 intangible cultural heritages and 11 documentary heritages). Most recently, the Dong Ho folk painting profession was listed on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritages for urgent protection on December 9, 2025.
