On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, the conference “Twenty Years of Safeguarding and Promoting the Intangible Cultural Heritages in Vietnam: From UNESCO to the Community” was organized on December 20, 2023. The conference was organized by the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Sports of Hanoi City at the Hanoi Museum.
Attendees of the conference included numerous experts, managers, representatives of agencies and organizations working with the intangible cultural heritages, community representatives, folk artists, and practitioners of intangible cultural heritages. Aimed at evaluating the implementation of the 2003 UNESCO Convention, the conference highlighted the impact of the Convention on the safeguarding and promotion of intangible cultural heritage values in Vietnam. It comprised four sessions covering various themes: Session 1 - “The 2003 UNESCO Convention and the Law on Cultural Heritages in Vietnam”; Session 2 - “Twenty Years of Safeguarding and Promoting the Intangible Cultural Heritages in Hanoi”; Session 3 - “The 2003 Convention and the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritages in Vietnam”; Session 4 - “Discussion and Recommendations on the Safeguarding and Promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritages in Vietnam.”

Vietnam is among the early countries to incorporate provisions regarding intangible cultural heritage into its Cultural Heritage Law and has consistently been a positive and responsible member of UNESCO, contributing to the safeguarding and promotion of cultural diversity and the sustainable development of cultural heritage worldwide. During the conference, experts, scholars, managers, community members, and folk artists engaged in multidimensional and objective dialogues to share information, recognize challenges in the safeguarding and promotion of heritage in the current context, and highlight exemplary activities within communities for the practice and enhancement of heritage values. The conference presented recommendations in order to promote the affect of protecting intangible cultural heritage in Vietnam. The recommendations included adjustments and amendments to the Cultural Heritage Law.

DAO THI HONG LE