A festival aiming to preserve cultural values of the thousand-year-old folk singing vi giam got underway in the central province of Ha Tinh on August 17.
The second Vi Giam Folk Singing Festival is also an important cultural event that aims to promote the traditional folk singing towards UNESCO recognition of v i giam as world intangible heritage of humanity.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Vuong Duy Bien spoke highly of values of vi giam folk singing in the cultural and spiritual life of people.
He praised local artists and people for their tireless efforts to educate younger generations on vi giam genres and preserve this heritage.
He also asked the two provinces to continue their efforts to make vi giam folk singing not only a national intangible cultural heritage but also the one of humanity.
On the occasion, Deputy Minister Bien also presented a certificate recognising vi giam folk singing as a national cultural heritage.
Six outstanding artists were honoured with insignias for preservation and development of the singing.
As part of the festival, co-organised by the central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh, 21 clubs participating in the event will tour localities in the two provinces to entertain audience.
Vi giam folk singing are two kinds of folk music from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces. The music often reflects the working and cultural lives of people in the coastal provinces.