An Giang receives UNESCO recognition and inaugurates the Via Ba Chua Xu festival at Sam Mountain.

(To Quoc) - On the evening of March 19th, at the Mount Sam National Tourist Area, Chau Doc city, An Giang province, a ceremony was held to receive the UNESCO certificate recognizing the "Via Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival" as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity and to inaugurate the 2025 Via Ba Chua Xu Festival.

Attending the ceremony were Mr. Mai Van Chinh, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Deputy Prime Minister; leaders of central ministries and agencies and localities; former leaders of the Party and State; on the side of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong; on the international side, Mr. Jonathan Baker, Head of UNESCO Representative Office in Vietnam; leaders and former leaders of An Giang province, along with a large number of people from within and outside the province.

Leaders of An Giang province receive the UNESCO certificate recognizing the "Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival" as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

On December 4, 2024, the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage officially adopted a resolution inscribing the "Via Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival" on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh stated that this is an important event to honor and promote the heritage of the Via Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival in An Giang province. At the same time, it aims to promote the traditional cultural heritage values ​​of An Giang province to the domestic and international community… The organization of the UNESCO certificate reception ceremony and the opening of the Via Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival aims to honor, promote, and widely publicize the heritage values ​​of An Giang to the people and tourists. It strengthens the awareness of the domestic and international community about the cultural, historical, and significance of the Via Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival. Through this, it enhances the responsibility of all levels, sectors, and localities in the work of preserving and promoting the value of intangible cultural heritage representing humanity. To promote the historical and cultural values ​​of An Giang province and its people, affirm the rich cultural identity of the Kinh, Hoa, Cham, Khmer ethnic communities, introduce distinctive local products, and promote tourism development in line with sustainable development principles.

“The Via Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival has been inscribed on the List of Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity; the people of An Giang province and relevant ministries, departments, and localities need to pay attention to protecting the cultural space of the nation; preserving and promoting the value of the festival in particular and Vietnamese cultural heritage in general,” Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh emphasized.

Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh delivered a speech at the ceremony.

On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh expressed his hope that international organizations, especially UNESCO, would continue to cooperate with Vietnam in the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values, spreading the essence of national culture within the flow of world culture.

According to legend, locals discovered an ancient statue on the summit of Mount Sam but were unable to move it. Later, a girl had a dream in which she was told that only nine virgins could bring the statue down, and miraculously, they succeeded. Over the centuries, the Lady of the Land Temple gradually became an important religious center for the people of Southern Vietnam. Initially, it was just a small, simple temple built of bamboo and thatch. Today, the temple has been renovated and is a sacred destination attracting millions of visitors every year, especially during the festival season from the 22nd to the 27th of April in the lunar calendar.

The "Via Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival" has been inscribed by UNESCO on the list of representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. This is not only a great honor for An Giang province but also a source of national pride. It is also an opportunity to honor and promote the unique values ​​of the heritage and the image of An Giang, a homeland rich in historical and cultural traditions, to the people of the whole country and international friends. It awakens national pride, raises the sense of responsibility of all levels, sectors, and the community in the work of preserving and promoting the value of the cultural heritage of the nation and humanity, contributing to socio-economic development. UNESCO's recognition of the festival as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity is proof of the unique value of a traditional cultural heritage. At the same time, this event also places responsibility on preserving and promoting the value of the "Via Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival," said Mr. Le Hong Quang, Secretary of the An Giang Provincial Party Committee.

The Deputy Prime Minister beats the drum to officially open the festival honoring the Goddess of Sam Mountain.

The UNESCO inscription of the Via Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is a significant event in the process of preserving and promoting the value of the Via Ba Chua Xu Nui Sam Festival. This recognition is a testament to the unique cultural values ​​and enduring vitality of the Festival across generations, and also demonstrates the international community's high regard for Vietnam's efforts in preserving and promoting its cultural heritage.

Unique artistic performances at the ceremony.

“This is not only a joy for the Party Committee, the Government, and the people of An Giang, but also a shared joy for the people of Southern Vietnam and the whole country. Therefore, the upcoming task of preserving and promoting this heritage to create favorable conditions for its development and ensuring its connectivity and sustainability is extremely important,” said Mr. Le Hong Quang.

At this ceremony, leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism handed over the UNESCO certificate to the leaders of the People's Committee of An Giang province. Also at this ceremony, the ceremonial drums sounded, officially opening the Via Ba Chua Xu Festival 2025.

Source: https://toquoc.vn/an-giang-don-bang-cong-nhan-cua-unesco-va-khai-hoi-via-ba-chua-xu-nui-sam-20250320060522085.htm