UNESCO presented Vietnam a certificate recognizing Xoe Thai dance as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at a ceremony held in Yen Bai province on September 24.
Pauline Tamesis (R), UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, presents the UNESCO certificate recognizing Xoe Thai to a representative of Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, September 24, 2022.
In his remarks at the celebration, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that the recognition of Xoe Thai as Vietnam's 14th heritage inscribed by UNESCO is a moment of great pride for the Thai people and the community of the country's 54 ethnic groups.
The noble and beautiful value of Xoe Thai dance should be promoted internationally and domestically, he said.
"As Xoe Thai represents the convergence of cultural beauty, promoting this art is our shared responsibility," Mr. Chinh noted.
Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, said that the Thai community and Vietnamese people should continue to maintain, promote, and disseminate the significance of Xoe Thai, while contributing more to UNESCO's activities and human culture.
The ceremony also featured a Xoe Thai dance show involving more than 2,000 artisans and performers.
Xoe Thai is a unique traditional dance that plays a significant role in the daily life of Thai ethnic minority communities in the northwest of Vietnam. It is performed in various community activities, from festivals to funeral rituals.