Attending and cutting the ribbon to open the ceremony were comrades Phakhanxay SiKhanxay, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of Laos; comrade Ki-lien-thoong Keo-no-la-sing, Deputy Chief of Office of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party; comrade Bua-ngân Xa-phu-vông, former Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of Laos. On the Vietnamese side were comrade Nguyen Minh Tam, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Laos and his wife, along with a large number of officials of the Embassy, Heads of agencies next to the Embassy, Vietnamese expatriates in Laos and Lao friends who love Vietnamese culture.
The Then belief of the Tay, Nung, Thai people in Vietnam is a unique folk art form, containing the morality of being human, a profound philosophy of life and the spirit of community solidarity. More than just a ritual, Then is a harmonious combination of music, lyrics, dances and traditional handicrafts. The sound of the Tinh Tau zither echoing with the Then song is not only a prayer for favorable weather, good harvests, and peaceful life, but also a connecting thread between people and nature, between the past and the present.
With outstanding values in history, culture and identity, on December 12, 2019, Then practice of the Tay, Nung, and Thai people in Vietnam was officially recognized by UNESCO as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This title not only affirms the value and vitality of heritage in contemporary life but also recognizes the central role of the community - the creative, practical and heritage-transmitting subject; and encourages efforts to protect and promote heritage on the basis of respecting cultural diversity and sustainable development.
With 54 photo documents, 119 typical display products and 12 excerpts of the Then ritual of the Tay - Thai group, the display space is expressed according to 5 main themes:
Part 1: Overview of residential areas, villages, houses, agricultural cultivation, traditional means of transport of ethnic groups of the Tay - Thai language group
Part 2: Textile weaving, brocade and traditional costumes of ethnic groups of the Tay - Thai language group
Part 3: Cultural story about Then belief practices
Part 4: Preservation and promotion of "Then singing and Tinh lute art heritage
Part 5: Performing some Then Co performances.
The highlight of the exhibition is the direct appearance of talented Then artisans from Vietnam. As "nuclei of heritage" who are day and night keeping the fire and transmitting the fire, the artisans will bring to the public ancient Then melodies, the enchanting sound of the Tinh zither and the most sacred and authentic performance rituals right in the exhibition space.
Through exhibitions, performances and cultural exchanges, the event contributes to further tightening the faithful and steadfast solidarity and friendship between the people of Vietnam and Laos. The cultural similarity of the ethnic groups belonging to the Thai - Kadai language family, along with the closeness of living space, soul and lifestyle, helps the people of the two countries easily feel and resonate.
The thematic exhibition in Vientiane Capital not only realizes cultural cooperation commitments between the two countries, but is also a practical action in preserving and promoting the values of the intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO. At the same time, the event spreads the good values of heritage, honors the role of the ASEAN community, consolidates great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, and strategic linkages between Vietnam and Laos.
