Ready for any scenario.

VHO - Vietnam has completed its nomination dossier for "Dong Ho folk painting" to submit to UNESCO. The dossier is currently being reviewed by the Council of the 2003 UNESCO Convention, which is proposing comments for the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention to make a decision. The announcement is scheduled for December 2025.

Bac Ninh Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Anh Tuan introduces the experience of making Dong Ho folk paintings to Ambassadors and Heads of international diplomatic missions to encourage support for the craft of Dong Ho painting. Photo: T. THANH

Recently, at the headquarters of the Vietnamese Delegation to UNESCO in Paris, Ambassador Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to UNESCO, held a working session with a delegation from the Vietnam Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Ninh province regarding the nomination dossier for "Dong Ho folk painting" as an intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding, which will be considered by UNESCO in December 2025.

Văn Hóa (Culture) magazine had an interview with Mr. Nguyen Van Dap, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Ninh province, regarding the nomination dossier.

Could you please provide information about the recent meeting between the Vietnamese delegation and the Ambassador, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to UNESCO in Paris?

- Mr. Nguyen Van Dap : At the meeting, Ambassador Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to UNESCO, highly appreciated the role and efforts of the Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Ninh province in the process of building the dossier.

The Ambassador expressed his delight and noted that the dossier was well-prepared and serious, reflecting a high sense of responsibility in preserving an intangible cultural heritage that is facing the risk of disappearing. The Ambassador affirmed that the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to UNESCO attaches great importance to this nomination dossier and has acted as the focal point, together with the People's Committee of Bac Ninh province and the National UNESCO Committee, in leading the implementation of many activities to promote and advocate for the dossier.

In what context was the dossier submitted to UNESCO for recognition of Dong Ho painting as an intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding prepared?

- We are striving to prepare a dossier to submit to UNESCO for consideration and recognition of Dong Ho painting as an intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection, given that this traditional craft is facing a serious risk of extinction.

Although it is a distinctive cultural symbol of the nation, the number of remaining artisans is now very small, mostly elderly people. The sophisticated techniques of making these paintings, from preparing the paper and creating natural colors from local materials to carving the printing blocks, are gradually disappearing due to a lack of successors and competition from modern art forms.

Furthermore, the market for traditional Dong Ho paintings faces many difficulties, making the lives of artisans unstable and reducing the motivation for the younger generation to stay committed to the craft.

Submitting the Dong Ho painting craft to UNESCO for inclusion on the List of Crafts in Need of Urgent Safeguarding is an urgent action aimed at attracting international attention, mobilizing resources, and developing effective conservation programs to help the craft overcome its difficulties, revive, and develop sustainably.

Deputy Director of the Bac Ninh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Nguyen Van Dap, guided the Dong Ho painting craft at a program introducing Bac Ninh culture in Phu Quoc (Kien Giang province).

There are only six months left until UNESCO considers the Dong Ho folk painting nomination. Could you provide information about the nomination process and the feedback received from UNESCO and its member states?

- The Council for the Examination of the 2003 Convention's dossiers is currently examining the dossiers of countries in 2025, including Vietnam. The examination of the dossiers is an internal matter of the Council; there is no direct feedback or requests for further information or corrections. In some cases, where the dossier requires clarification or the addition of minor, insignificant information, the Secretariat of the 2003 Convention may send a letter to the member state in July or August 2025 requesting clarification or additional information.

The UNESCO review board will assess the dossier and report its findings to the Intergovernmental Committee in December 2025. The Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 UNESCO Convention will meet in New Delhi, India in December 2025 to officially inscribe the intangible cultural heritage of the countries.

Over the past period, the People's Committee of Bac Ninh province and the National UNESCO Committee have jointly implemented many cultural activities to promote and lobby for the nomination. These events have left many positive impressions on international friends, contributing to attracting the attention of the international community to this unique cultural heritage of Vietnam.

The recent trip by the Vietnamese delegation aimed to study and learn from international experiences and exchange expertise in the field of intangible cultural heritage preservation, contributing to promoting the process of inscribing the dossier on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguard.

Vietnamese authorities will continue to cooperate closely with the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to UNESCO from now until December 2025, when UNESCO considers this important nomination dossier.

Could you please tell us what we need to do between now and December 2025?

- While awaiting the results from UNESCO regarding the Dong Ho painting craft dossier, we need to take practical actions to preserve and promote this heritage. We need to continue strengthening conservation activities and direct teaching in the craft villages, supporting artisans to continue production, ensuring their livelihoods, and passing on the craft to the younger generation.

Continue to promote Dong Ho paintings domestically through exhibitions, cultural events, and especially by applying digital technology to reach a wider audience, particularly young people, helping them understand and appreciate the value of this cultural heritage.

Being prepared for all scenarios from UNESCO is also crucial: If recognized and inscribed, there will be a plan to enhance its international stature; if not, there will be a plan to address the issues, supplement the dossier, and continue to make even stronger conservation efforts…

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/san-sang-cho-moi-kich-ban-141924.html