Ho Chi Minh City Lion Dance Art is recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Lion and dragon dance on Lantern Festival in District 5

Ho Chi Minh City's Lion Dance art has just been officially included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Previously, in August 2024, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City sent a document requesting the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to consider including the intangible cultural heritage "Ho Chi Minh City Lion and Dragon Dance" in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Lion and Dragon Dance is a typical performing art form of the Chinese people in Ho Chi Minh City. When it comes to Lion and Dragon Dance, the Saigon - Cho Lon area is considered the cradle that has nurtured and developed many famous lion dance troupes over the past decades, inheriting many quintessence of generations of top martial artists closely associated with performance. Lion and Dragon Dance performance art in the Cho Lon area has existed for hundreds of years. This is not only an art and martial art, but also brings good luck, fortune and peace to everyone. Asians believe that using lion dances can ward off evil spirits, and the Earth God will bring good luck to the world. The image of the dragon is the origin of the nation, bringing favorable weather, a life of plenty and warm clothes to the people.

Lion and Dragon Dance troupes in Ho Chi Minh City are busy all year round.

Therefore, until today, especially during the Lunar New Year which lasts until the end of January, the Lion Dance troupes in Ho Chi Minh City are always busy and bustling preparing to serve the opening season, celebrating the New Year. In addition, Lion Dance also appears in festivals, openings, Lantern Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival... Currently, in Ho Chi Minh City, there are dozens of Lion Dance troupes established. In addition to serving the ceremonies and Tet, the troupes often organize competitions and performances to compete with each other. According to the Department of Culture & Sports of Ho Chi Minh City, Lion Dance art also helps create jobs for people, contributes to creating material wealth, stabilizing and developing the city's economy . In addition, it also helps balance the needs of cultural and spiritual activities, solving the needs of entertainment and community activities that people in modern society cannot lack. Up to now, Ho Chi Minh City has 4 national intangible cultural heritages: Nghinh Ong Festival - Can Gio, Nguyen Tieu Festival of Chinese people in District 5, Khai Ha - Cau An Festival at Lang Duc Ta Quan Le Van Duyet and Lion Dance Art of Ho Chi Minh City. Source: https://vtv.vn/doi-song/nghe-thuat-lan-su-rong-tp-ho-chi-minh-duoc-cong-nhan-la-di-san-van-hoa-phi-vat-the-quoc-gia-20250106170709794.htm