International friends experience wearing Ao Tu Than, discovering the beauty of Bac Ninh-Kinh Bac

Bạn bè quốc tế trải nghiệm mặc áo tứ thân, khám phá vẻ đẹp Bắc Ninh-Kinh Bắc

The program "Learning about Vietnam Day 2023" was held in Bac Ninh province, bringing many unique cultural experiences of Kinh Bac land to international delegates.

The program "Learning about Vietnam Day 2023" is jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the People's Committee of Bac Ninh province, with the aim of introducing and promoting the culture of Bac Ninh - Kinh Bac land to international delegates.

Attending the program were Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO Ha Kim Ngoc; Secretary of Bac Ninh Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Anh Tuan, along with nearly 150 delegates including Ambassadors/Heads of Representatives from Diplomatic Corps and International Organizations in Vietnam, newly appointed Vietnamese Ambassadors, ASEAN Women's Group in Hanoi (AWCH Group) and the Association of Foreign Enterprises in Vietnam.

In his welcoming speech, Secretary of the Bac Ninh Provincial Party Committee, Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan said that over the past time, Bac Ninh province has always paid attention to ensuring harmony and sustainability between economic development, environmental protection and the preservation and maintenance of traditional cultural values.

Secretary of Bac Ninh Provincial Party Committee, Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan delivered a welcome speech.

Therefore, Bac Ninh hopes to continue receiving attention and support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic missions, international organizations, and foreign business associations in Vietnam in connecting, spreading, and promoting the image, traditional cultural values, and attractive investment environment of Bac Ninh province to the world.

The leaders of Bac Ninh province hope that, with their diplomatic prestige, the delegates will help Bac Ninh province promote and lobby UNESCO to consider including "Dong Ho folk painting craft" in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding of Humanity in 2024.

Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc highly appreciated the determination of the people and government of Bac Ninh province in preserving and promoting the unique cultural heritage values, notably Quan Ho folk songs and Dong Ho folk paintings. The tireless efforts in recent times have contributed to preserving and spreading the traditional cultural values of Vietnam to international friends and tourists.

Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc spoke at the Program.

However, Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc said that the craft of making Dong Ho folk paintings is currently facing many challenges, notably the narrowing of the product consumption market and the risk of the elderly artisans disappearing.

The Deputy Minister reiterated the direction of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, during his visit and work in Thuan Thanh (April 5), that it is necessary to focus on collecting and preserving valuable documents and artifacts; pay attention to training the young generation in painting making; and promote Dong Ho folk paintings.

Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc emphasized: “As a country with a thousand years of civilization, Vietnam clearly understands the importance of culture, considers culture as the source of national strength, and wishes to promote its cultural values for sustainable national development and enrich the world's cultural treasure. In that process, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will always accompany localities, including Bac Ninh province, to continue to preserve and introduce its unique cultural quintessence to international friends.”

Expressing his feelings when visiting Bac Ninh, Mr. Saadi Salama, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Vietnam, Head of the Diplomatic Corps congratulated the achievements that Bac Ninh province has made in the socio-economic fields, especially the great contributions of the locality to the cultural heritage of humanity, of which Bac Ninh Quan Ho folk songs are a typical representative.

Mr. Saadi Salama, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Vietnam, Head of the Diplomatic Corps spoke at the Program.

As Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Vietnam and a member of UNESCO, Mr. Saadi Salama will pay more attention to developing the relationship between Palestine and Vietnam, and commits to supporting Vietnam's proposals so that the Dong Ho folk painting craft of Bac Ninh province will soon be considered by UNESCO for inclusion in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding of Humanity.

Before that, within the framework of the program, delegates were instructed by artisans on how to make Dong Ho folk paintings and enjoyed the unique Dong Ngu Water Puppet show.

On this occasion, AWCH Group also had exchange activities and gave gifts at the Center for Nurturing Meritorious People and Social Protection of Bac Ninh province.

Guests were instructed by artisans on how to make Dong Ho folk paintings.

Enjoy the Dong Ngu Water Puppet show.

In particular, delegates had the opportunity to update information on the province's socio-economic and cultural achievements; enjoy the rich and diverse cuisine of Kinh Bac; try on the traditional Ao Tu Than costume and listen to Quan Ho folk songs - an art form recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.

International guests try on the traditional Ao Tu Than costume.

Listen to Quan Ho folk songs - an art form recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.

International delegation visits Dong Ho Folk Painting Conservation Center.

The program is an annual event organized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2015, aiming to update the country's socio-economic achievements and promote Vietnamese culture to the international community.

In 2022, the Program was successfully organized at Mailand City Urban Area, Hoai Duc District, Hanoi City, contributing to bringing the image of a Vietnamese Tet rich in identity in the atmosphere of the New Year.

Bac Ninh-Kinh Bac is famous for its sacred land and outstanding people. Over thousands of years of history, generations of Kinh Bac ancestors have created, preserved and passed on to today's generations a treasure trove of cultural heritage rich in national identity. Many intangible cultural heritages have been restored, taught and effectively promoted, including the craft of making Dong Ho folk paintings.

The craft of making Dong Ho folk paintings has existed and developed for hundreds of years. However, this traditional craft is facing the risk of extinction and needs urgent protection. Currently, there are only 3 households with about 30 people from 4 generations who can make Dong Ho folk paintings, including the families of artisan Nguyen Dang Che, artisan Nguyen Thi Oanh and artisan Nguyen Huu Qua (all in Song Ho - Thuan Thanh).

To preserve and promote the value of Dong Ho folk painting, the Vietnamese Government and the People's Committee of Bac Ninh province, with the active participation of the community, have built a dossier on Dong Ho folk painting to submit to UNESCO for consideration of inclusion in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

Thành lập thị xã Quế Võ, nỗ lực tạo đột phá về công nghiệp và dịch vụ của tỉnh Bắc Ninh

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