(AG Provincial E-Portal) - On the morning of March 14, in Chau Doc city, the organizing committee of the event to receive the UNESCO certificate recognizing the “Via Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival” as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and the opening ceremony of the 2025 Via Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival held a press conference to provide information to the media from both inside and outside the province about the event.
The press conference was chaired by Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Huong, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the An Giang Provincial Delegation to the National Assembly, and Head of the Provincial Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Committee, Mr. Lam Quang Thi, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Chau Doc City Party Committee, Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy, Vice Chairwoman of the An Giang Provincial People's Committee, and Mr. Nguyen Khanh Hiep, Director of the An Giang Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.
The event to receive the UNESCO certificate for the recognition of the Via Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and the opening of the 2025 festival, with around 2,000 delegates, will take place at 8:00 PM on March 19 at the Nui Sam National Tourism Area (Nui Sam Ward, Chau Doc City). The program will be broadcast live on VTV Southwest Region (VTV Can Tho), An Giang Radio and Television Station (ATV), and other national radio and television stations.
The ceremony will consist of four parts: the UNESCO recognition ceremony; the opening of the Via Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival; a special artistic program; a planned low-altitude fireworks display. Prior to the event, at 6:30 PM on the same day, delegates will perform a ritual offering incense at the Thoai Ngoc Hau tomb and the Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam temple.
The organization of the UNESCO recognition ceremony and the opening of the Via Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival aims to honor, publicize, and promote the heritage values of An Giang to a wide audience, including the public and tourists. It will raise awareness among the domestic and international community about the cultural, historical, and significant values of the Via Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival. This will also enhance the responsibilities of local authorities and communities in preserving and promoting the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Additionally, it seeks to promote the historical and cultural values of the land and people of An Giang, affirming the rich cultural identity of the Kinh, Hoa, Cham, and Khmer communities, showcasing local specialties, and boosting sustainable tourism development.
On December 4, 2024, in Asunción, Paraguay, during the 19th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the “Via Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival” of Vietnam was officially recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This is the 16th intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam to be recognized by UNESCO and the second from the Southern region (along with the Southern Don Ca Tai Tu Art), marking the first traditional festival from the southern region to receive this honor./.
Reported by TH-TC
Translated by Kim Thuan
