Son La holds ceremony to honour Xoe Thai as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
The northern moutainous province of Son La on September 17 held a ceremony to honour the art of Xoe dance of the Thai ethnic people which has been listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Son La (VNA) – The northern moutainous province of Son La on September 17 held aceremony to honour the art of Xoe dance of the Thai ethnic people which hasbeen listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and CulturalOrganisation (UNESCO).
Xoe Thai is a unique type of traditional dance that is associated with and plays a significant role in the daily life of Thai ethnic communities in the northwest of Vietnam, especially in the provinces of Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La and Yen Bai. It is performed in various community activities, from festivals to funeral rituals.
There are about 30 Xoe dances, which have been developed, protected and handed down through generations intact over hundreds of years, including xoe quat (xoe dance with a fan), xoe khan (xoe dance with a scarf), xoe non (xoe dance with a conical hat) and many others with contents reflecting community activities and expressing the Thai people’s emotion. With gentle and alluring rhythms, dancers usually form a circle around a festive fire and move to the sound of melodic traditional music.
Accordingto Tran Xuan Viet, Deputy Director of provincial Department of Culture, Sportsand Tourism, the art of Xoe Thai dance of the Thai ethnic people contributes todeveloping tourism and economic growth as well as enhancing the relationship with other ethnicgroups in and outside the province.
Thepractice of traditional Xoe dances is still a major cultural activity in Thaiethnic villages, meeting entertainment demand for all generations. In communitycultural activities, Xoe dance plays a key role and is an indispensablespiritual product in the Thai community life, Viet said, adding that the art of Xoedance has been handed down among generations and community members.
ViceChairwoman of the Son La Provincial People's Committee Trang Thi Xuan emphasisedthat the accreditation is not only the pride of the Thai community but also ofethnic groups in the province.
Son Lawill focus on making Xoe Thai a highlight at destinations, serving community-based tourism, he said.
Theprovince will strengthen the collection, research and promotion of tangible andintangible cultural values in Thai ethnic culture in general, and Xoe dancein particular, Xuan added./.
The art of Xoe dance of Thai ethnic people meets all of the five criteria set by UNESCO to be listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, according to the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Right after UNESCO’s official listing of the art of Xoe dance of Thai ethnic minority people in Vietnam as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on December 15, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has joined Yen Bai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, and Son La provinces to celebrate the significant event.
Thai women in Vat village in Son La province’s Moc Chau district are no longer just working in their homes or in the kitchen behind closed doors. They are confident to introduce their cultural identity through the intangible cultural identity of Xoe dancing.
The northern mountainous province of Yen Bai has completed its preparation to host a ceremony to receive the UNESCO's certificate recognising the art of Xoe dance of the Thai ethnic people as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on September 24, according to Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Vu Thi Hien Hanh.
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A performance of Xoe dance. (Photo:VNA) 
