Leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces, mass art troupes from many localities and a large number of people attended the event.
Mr. Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee - presented a commemorative speech, reviewing the 10-year journey of preserving and promoting Vi Giam heritage since it was honored by UNESCO in 2014.
Vi and Giam have gone beyond the borders of Nghe An province to spread across the country and internationally, loved and preserved by many generations. UNESCO’s recognition of Vi and Giam as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity not only acknowledges its traditional value but also affirms the heritage’s special position in the world’s cultural treasure.
The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also emphasized the goal of continuing to preserve and promote the value of Vi and Giam. In order for Vi and Giam folk songs to be worthy of the title of Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the authorities and people of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces will continue to implement the action program to protect and promote the value of Vi and Giam folk songs, creating conditions for artisans and the community to preserve, transmit and spread love for the heritage; increase investment in resources, gradually build Vi and Giam folk songs into a typical tourism product of Nghe An, invest in building a brand for Vi and Giam and a local tourism brand associated with Vi and Giam.
Speaking at the program, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong highly appreciated the efforts and dedication of the authorities and people of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces and congratulated the results achieved in heritage protection work.
At the same time, he emphasized that preserving and promoting the value of cultural heritage is not only an honor but also a responsibility of the entire political system, community and society, especially in implementing the 2003 UNESCO Convention. The Deputy Minister called for active participation from all levels of government, community and people to implement the national action program to protect and promote the value of Vi and Giam folk songs; and to provide specific directions to protect and develop the Vi and Giam folk song heritage.
On this occasion, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism decided to award Certificates of Merit to 5 collectives and 5 individuals for their outstanding contributions to the work of preserving and promoting the values of Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk song heritage in the period 2014-2024.
The highlight of the event is a special art program called "Vi, Giam, the shining soul of the countryside", divided into three chapters: "Soul of the countryside", "Vi, Giam, raising talents" and "Convergence and shining" bringing together many famous artists to perform.
Vi and Giam folk songs are two unaccompanied singing styles created by the Nghe Tinh community hundreds of years ago. Vi and Giam are practiced at every moment of life such as lulling children to sleep, farming, rowing, weaving, milling rice, fishing on rivers, etc., performed with different states and emotions such as happiness, sadness of one person and of many people.
On November 27, 2014, at the 9th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Paris, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization officially recognized the Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs of Vietnam as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
