The Phu Tho provincial authorities held a ceremony at Hung Vuong Square in Viet Tri City on April 21 to kick off the Hung Kings Temple Festival 2023, the Culture and Tourism Week, the festival honouring the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage, and the celebration of the 20-year implementation of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Vietnam.
A performance at the opening ceremony
Addressing the opening ceremony, Head of the UNESCO Representative Office in Vietnam Christian Manhart, said that UNESCO appreciates the Vietnamese Government’s attention to promoting culture in boosting national economic development.
He hailed that Vietnam has always been one of the active members of UNESCO and has taken on important roles in most of UNESCO's activities while being willing to share its successful lessons with other countries in the field of culture.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha speaking at the opening ceremony
In his speech, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha affirmed that the worship of Hung Kings shows national pride in the roots and aspiration for the unity of the Vietnamese people.
He noted with pleasure that with 15 intangible heritages recognised by UNESCO, Vietnam has been established as a country with rich cultural resources in the world.
He stressed that the Party and State have always paid due attention to safeguarding and upholding cultural heritages, including the worshipping rituals of Hung Kings.
The ceremony featured a colourful art programme, which gathered hundreds of artisans, artists, and performers from central and local art troupes.
The programme entertained audiences with UNESCO-recognised art forms across Vietnam, such as Xoan singing, Hue Royal Court Music, Bai Choi folk singing, Xoe Thai dance, and Don Ca Tai Tu (a traditional musical genre of the Southerners).
A performance at the opening ceremony
A performance at the opening ceremony
