Are these cultural revival activities of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism?
Hanoi pho and Nam Dinh pho became national intangible cultural heritage, so what about pho from other localities?
Quang noodles are a national intangible heritage, so what about famous local specialties such as Hue beef noodle soup, chicken rice, banh xeo, Vinh eel porridge, Quang Tri powdered porridge, and Saigon noodles?
In addition, many ethnic specialties such as thang co, five-color sticky rice, lam rice... are also worthy of being heritage sites like Quang noodles or pho.
Not to mention there are many types such as Hue sesame, Ben Tre coconut candy, Hanoi green rice, green bean cake... then weasel coffee, Phu Quoc fish sauce. Oh well, fish sauce alone has many names, it's impossible to mention them all.
The culture of each region creates identity and difference, there is no reason to recognize the food or costumes of this region as intangible cultural heritage without recognizing other regions. Pho has a community of people who love to eat this dish, and noodle soup also has its own community. Without that community, it would not be possible to have strong vitality until today.
Hue Ao Dai is an Intangible Cultural Heritage, so is the four-body ao dai, Southern Ba Ba ao dai, not to mention many typical costumes of many ethnic groups across the country. The costumes associated with weaving, creating colors and patterns of the H'Mong, Dao, and Thai people, are very rich in "folk knowledge", and also deserve to be intangible cultural heritage. .
Also, conical hats and hats with straps can be intangible heritage! If we talk more about the thing "worn on the head", perhaps many names will be included in the list for heritage certification.
Who can answer the crystallized folk knowledge that should be included in a bowl of noodles, in a bowl of pho, in a bowl of vermicelli and who acknowledges that content. Even in Hanoi, this restaurant's pho is not like any other restaurant, let alone the region.
Therefore, to recognize a dish or costume as an intangible cultural heritage, it is necessary to have criteria that are measurable, rational, not emotional.
And the question arises, is it necessary to recognize in this way? When heritage is overflowing, is it still precious, is it still heritage?
