Vi-Dam singing seeks recognition as world heritage
Update: Mar 25, 2013
Vi-Dam folk music was officially selected as a representative of Vietnamese heritage seeking UNESCO's recognition as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2014.

The announcement was made by the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on March 23.

According to the department, a dossier requesting the recognition is being finalised to be submitted to UNESCO before the March 31 deadline.

Vi-Dam singing is popular in nearly 260 villages in the central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh.

The two provinces have 51 singing clubs with over 800 vocalists, many of whom are actively preserving the folk music.

Vi-Dam folk music, estimated to have 15 tunes of Vi and 8 airs of Dam, is a repartee sung while working. It reflects the work, cultural lives and feelings of the residents in the central coastal provinces.

Vietnam now has seven examples of intangible heritage recognised by UNESCO as world intangible heritages, namely Nha Nhac - the Vietnamese Court Music, The space of gong culture in Central Highlands, Quan ho Bac Ninh folk songs, Giong Festival at Phu Dong and Soc temples (Ha Noi), Ca Tru singing, Xoan singing in Phu Tho Province and Worship of Hung Kings in Phu Tho province

VNA