(BNP) – On the evening of March 27th, at 3/2 Square, Bac Ninh province solemnly held a ceremony to receive the UNESCO certificate recognizing the Dong Ho folk painting craft as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of urgent safeguarding; announce the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac complex of relics and scenic spots as a World Cultural Heritage site; and open the "Coming back to the Heritage Region of Bac Ninh 2026" Festival.
Representatives from the Party and State leadership present flowers to congratulate Bac Ninh province.
Central leaders attending the ceremony were Mr. Tran Sy Thanh, Member of the Political Bureau, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and Chairman of the Central Inspection Committee; Mr. Mai Van Chinh, Deputy Prime Minister; leaders of central ministries, departments, agencies, provinces, and cities; and representatives of UNESCO in Vietnam.
On the international side, there were Ms. Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam; representatives from the Embassies of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Republic of India in Vietnam; the representative office of Chungcheongnam Province and Cheongju City (South Korea) in Hanoi; and the Jeonbuk Provincial Culture and Tourism Foundation (South Korea).
Bac Ninh provincial leaders attending the ceremony were Mr. Nguyen Hong Thai, Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Mr. Nguyen Viet Oanh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Mr. Pham Hoang Son, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Mr. Tran Huy Phuong, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Inspection Committee.
The delegates attend the ceremony.
The art of Dong Ho folk painting was formally listed by UNESCO on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding on December 9, 2025, during the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention on the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO. This is an affirmation of our duty to protect, conserve, and promote the priceless legacy of humanity as well as an acknowledgment by the world community of the distinctive characteristics of Vietnamese culture.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism awards the UNESCO certificate recognizing the Dong Ho folk painting craft as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of urgent safeguarding.
In his opening remarks at the ceremony, Chairman Pham Hoang Son emphasized: Bac Ninh - Kinh Bac is land rich in historical and cultural traditions with a rich system of heritage, among which Dong Ho folk paintings are a unique symbol, embodying aesthetic values and folk knowledge. Being recognized by UNESCO not only acknowledges the value of this heritage but also places an urgent responsibility on its preservation, restoration, and promotion in the face of current challenges.
Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Pham Hoang Son delivers the opening speech.
The Chairman also stated that the recognition of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiep Bac complex as a World Cultural Heritage site opens up great opportunities to promote the image of the country, people, and culture of Bac Ninh to the international community, while simultaneously promoting sustainable tourism development.
At the ceremony, Ms. Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, presented the UNESCO certificate recognizing the Dong Ho folk painting craft as an intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding to representatives of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, as well as the Party Committee, government, and people of Bac Ninh province.
The United Nations in Vietnam and UNESCO highly appreciated the efforts of Bac Ninh province in particular and Vietnam in general in the conservation and effective promotion of cultural heritage values, viewing culture as an important driving force for sustainable development.
Ms. Pauline Tamesis affirmed that the United Nations and UNESCO will continue to work alongside Vietnam in its efforts to preserve heritage, promote community participation, and thereby contribute to the preservation of cultural diversity and sustainable development.
Dong Ho folk paintings are the embodiment of the essence and soul of the Vietnamese people.
Within the framework of the program, the "Coming back to the Heritage Region of Bac Ninh 2026" Festival was organized as an open space, integrating art performances, exhibitions, traditional craft village experiences, and tourism promotion. The art program "The Quintessence of Heritage - Shining Through a Thousand Years" combined traditional elements with modern technology, contributing to bringing heritage closer to the public, especially the younger generation. This approach shows a clear shift in development thinking: heritage is no longer a static value to be preserved merely, but has become a "living asset," capable of directly participating in the economic value chain...
