Khanh Hoa honors national cultural heritage of bird's nest

(PLVN) - On the evening of June 4, in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Salanganes Nest Company coordinated with the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to organize the Ceremony to honor Folk Knowledge and Khanh Hoa Salanganes Nest Festival - two values ​​that have just been recognized as National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The event is not only an occasion to honor a long-standing traditional profession but also to recognize the persistent efforts of coastal communities in preserving unique folk knowledge. The profession of exploiting bird's nests - associated with offshore rocky islands - has become a part of the soul of Khanh Hoa's marine culture, both spiritually valuable and a stable source of livelihood for thousands of local workers.

This is also the opening activity for a series of programs within the framework of the 2025 Sea Culture - Tourism Festival . Through the honoring ceremony, Khanh Hoa province affirms the special role of the bird's nest industry in the history of the South Central Coast region. The nearly 700-year journey of the bird's nest industry is a story of resilience, gratitude to the ancestors who discovered and preserved precious natural resources on the islands.

The Bird’s Nest Festival – held annually on the 10th day of the 5th lunar month – originates from the worship of the Holy Mother Le Thi Huyen Tram, who is considered the Island Owner who founded the bird’s nest industry. Over time, the festival has become a symbol of spiritual culture, expressing gratitude to ancestors and pride in the connection between people and the ocean.

Currently, Khanh Hoa Salanganes Nest Company is managing and preserving more than 40 natural salangane islands. The annual output of raw salanganes nests is about 6 tons - an impressive figure showing the effectiveness of the sustainable exploitation model. Brands such as Khanh Hoa Salanganes Nest, Sanest, Sanvinest, Sanest Foods and Sanna have reached more than 20 countries, conquering even demanding markets such as Japan, Korea, the US and Australia, thereby affirming the position of Vietnamese products on the international map.

Ms. Trinh Thi Hong Van, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Khanh Hoa Salanganes Nest Company , expressed her gratitude. Photo: Tran Minh Ngoc.

The fact that the knowledge of the bird's nest craft and the Bird's Nest Festival are included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage is a clear demonstration of the prestige and lasting value of this profession. This is also a reminder for the community and businesses to continue to preserve and promote, integrating traditional heritage into modern life.

At the ceremony, the leaders of Khanh Hoa province presented the certificate of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to Khanh Hoa Salanganes Nest Company. Also in the program, the art night with the theme "Honoring heritage - Forever pride" took place impressively. The art performances combined traditional and modern to vividly depict the development journey of the salanganes nest profession through generations.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, Mr. Nguyen Tan Tuan, affirmed: "Khanh Hoa bird's nest is not only a key economic sector but also a cultural symbol of the locality, contributing to raising the national brand. This is the pride not only of Khanh Hoa people but also of the whole of Vietnam."

He also called on Khanh Hoa Salanganes Nest Company to continue promoting the spirit of innovation and creativity, applying science and technology to exploitation and processing. Sustainable development combined with heritage preservation will be the right direction to bring the Khanh Hoa - Vietnam Salanganes Nest brand further in the future.

Thien Thanh

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/khanh-hoa-vinh-danh-di-san-van-hoa-quoc-gia-yen-sao-post550868.html