On 13^th-14^th January 2015, the Vietnamese Institute for Musicology (under Vietnam National Academy of Music) and Bình Định Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism jointly organized the International conference “Bài chòi folk art in Viet Nam and similar types of art in the world” in Quy Nhơn city, Bình Định province.

Participants were Mr. Hồ Quốc Dũng, Chairman of Bình Định People’s Committee; Ms. Đặng Thị Bích Liên, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and representatives of the Association of Vietnamese Folklorists, National Council for Cultural Heritage and Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of localities where the heritage Bài chòi is practised. Six foreign scientists from France, Germany, Sweden, the Republic of Korea and Laos, Vietnamese scientists, folk artists and artists in Bình Định presented their papers.

Nineteen papers and many suggestions were given to clarify the origin, artistic features and methods to preserve Bài chòi folk art.

In the conference summary, Prof. Dr.Sc. Tô Ngọc Thanh stated that “Bài chòi is a cultural heritage of Central, Northern Central and Southern Central Vietnam. In each place, it has particular local characteristics. Bài chòi, for that reason, is a general concept consisting multi-colored flowers”.

The International conference “Bài chòi folk art in Viet Nam and similar types of art in the world” was an opportunity for local and international scientists to share their researches and opinions about Bài chòi folk art. It was the scientific basis for the completion of the nomination file of Bài chòi to submit to the UNESCO for the recognition as the Intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

ĐÀO THỊ HỒNG LÊ