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The Vietnamese delegation attending the 19th session of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage |
Among the 66 nominations reviewed at the session, this festival stood out as a representation of Vietnam's rich cultural diversity. Held annually from the 22nd to the 27th of the fourth lunar month at the Ba Chua Xu Temple and at her sacred stone altar on Sam Mountain, the festival features spiritual rites and artistic performances. It embodies the gratitude and faith of the Vietnamese, Cham, Khmer, and Chinese communities in Chau Doc city, An Giang province, to the goddess, who is venerated as a Holy Mother of the Realm.
The festival reflects the foundation and evolution of Mother Goddess worship, a shared spiritual practice among Vietnam’s ethnic groups, as part of the nation’s historical reclamation and settlement process. By venerating the goddess, the festival seeks to honor her role as a protector who grants blessings of prosperity, health, and peace. It also serves as a platform for promoting ethical values, such as the Vietnamese tradition of "remembering its source when drinking water," and highlights the importance of women while fostering cultural harmony and mutual respect among diverse ethnic groups.
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Some images of the festival |
UNESCO's recognition of the festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity underscores the shared commitment to preserving cultural values. This milestone enhances the community's responsibility to organize, manage, and safeguard the heritage while strengthening interethnic solidarity in Vietnam. It also reinforces the universal aspiration for peace, stability, and prosperity.
The UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage commended Vietnam for its meticulous preparation of the dossier for the festival, as well as the country’s valuable contribution to the committee, particularly during the 2022-2026 term.
Representing Vietnam and the practitioners of this heritage, Nguyen Minh Vu, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, and Le Hong Quang, Secretary of the An Giang provincial Party Committee, expressed their gratitude to UNESCO's advisory bodies, the Inter-government Committee’s members, and 2003 Convention’s Secretariat. They pledged to implement necessary measures to preserve and promote the values of the Festival of Ba Chua Xu at Sam Mountain.
Translated by Song Anh