1. Hue Royal Court Music (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2003)
Unlike ‘Ca Tru,’ which originated in folk traditions before entering the royal court, Hue Royal Court Music (Nha Nhac in Vietnamese) followed a different path, emerging from the court and spreading outward. UNESCO has recognized it as the only form of traditional Vietnamese music to have achieved a truly national stature.
    |
 |
|
Hue Royal Court Music (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2003) |
Hue Royal Court Music first appeared during the early years of the Ly Dynasty (1010-1225), but reached its peak under the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945). Characterized by its refined, solemn and sacred style, the music was performed at major court ceremonies, royal rituals and worship of deities, making it an indispensable element of court life at the time.
Closely associated with the Imperial Court of Hue, Hue Royal Court Music developed according to strict standards and formal structures, comprising hundreds of ceremonial musical pieces.
On November 7, 2003, it was proclaimed by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
2. Central Highlands Gong Culture Space (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2005)
The origins of the gongs in Vietnam’s Central Highlands region remains uncertain, but researchers trace them back to ancient times, likely linked to the Dong Son Culture 3,500-4,000 years ago. Integral to the life and rituals of ethnic communities in the region, gongs are central to ceremonies such as newborn blessings, weddings, funerals, buffalo sacrifices, water rituals, harvest celebrations, granary closings, and the inauguration of communal houses.
|
|
 |
|
Central Highlands Gong Culture Space (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2005) |
Crafted from bronze alloys, sometimes mixed with gold, silver, or blackened copper, gongs vary in size from 20 cm to 50-60 cm in diameter, with the largest reaching 90-120 cm. Some are played individually, while others are performed in ensembles of 2-13 gongs, or in some communities, up to 18-20.
On November 25, 2005, the Space of Gong Culture in the Central Highlands was officially recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
3. Quan Ho Bac Ninh folk songs (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2009)
Quan Ho is a form of folk singing characterized by a duet format. With more than 500 songs and 213 different melody variations, Quan Ho folk singing reaches the pinnacle of Vietnamese traditional poetry and music.
|
|
 |
|
Quan Ho Bac Ninh folk songs (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2009) |
The songs demonstrate the spirit, philosophy and local identity of the communities in the region and help forge social bonds within and between villages that share a cherished cultural practice.
Quan Ho was recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity in on September 30, 2009.
4. Ca Tru singing (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2009)
Ca Tru is a complex form of sung poetry found in the north of Vietnam using lyrics written in traditional Vietnamese poetic forms. It features a female singer accompanied by a small group of musicians. The art genre appeared in the North around the 15th century and thrived until the early 20th century.
It was inscribed on October 1, 2009 on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
|
|
 |
|
Ca Tru singing (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2009) |
5. Giong Festival of Phu Dong and Soc temples (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2010)
The Giong Festival of Phu Dong and Soc temples in Hanoi is associated with the legend of Saint Giong, a hero from Phu Dong village who defeated foreign invaders and brought peace to the country. Saint Giong symbolizes the patriotic spirit of the Vietnamese people and is one of the four immortals deeply rooted in their spiritual life.
|
|
 |
|
Giong Festival of Phu Dong and Soc temples (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2010) |
The Saint Giong Festival is held in Soc temple, where the saint ascended to heaven, in the first lunar month and Phu Dong temple, where he was born, in the fourth lunar month.
On November 16, 2010, UNESCO recognized the Giong Festival as intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
6. Xoan singing (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2011 and 2017)
Xoan singing is a valuable intangible cultural heritage element of the ancestal land of Phu Tho. The heritage has links to the worship of Hung Kings, a belief that originates from the Vietnamese practice of ancestor worship.
|
|
 |
|
Xoan singing (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2011 and 2017) |
It is a type of traditional art performed during rituals and celebrations, comprising multiple elements of melodies, singing and dancing that serve the spiritual demands of the community.
On November 24, 2011, this genre singing in Phu Tho was officially recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding. Then on December 8, 2017, it was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
7. Worship of Hung Kings in Phu Tho (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2012)
For generations, the Vietnamese have considered the Hung Kings the legendary founders of the country and the fathers of the nation. Every year, in the third month of the lunar calendar, Vietnamese people from far and wide gather in Phu Tho province to visit the Hung Kings Temple, pray for good weather and peace, and show their gratitude to the ancestors.
|
|
 |
|
Worship of Hung Kings in Phu Tho (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2012) |
Worshiping Hung Kings has become a cultural and religious symbol connecting the past with the present, helping to cultivate family, village and national ties.
It was recognized as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO on December 6, 2012.
8. The art of Don Ca Tai Tu (Southern amateur music) (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2013)
Considered one of the country’s main music genres, Don Ca Tai Tu originated from the Hue court music and folk music, and adapted on the basis of folk songs of the Southern region. It came into being in late the 19th century, thrived in the early 20th century and remains an important part of the country’s traditional culture today.
|
|
 |
|
The art of Don Ca Tai Tu (Southern amateur music) (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2013) |
The music is typically performed at festivals, commemoration rituals and celebrations by farmer-performers. Instrumentalists and singers express their feelings by improvising based on 20 principals and 72 classical songs.
Don Ca Tai Tu was listed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO on December 5, 2013.
9. Vi and Giam folk songs of Nghe Tinh (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2014)
Vi and Giam are two forms of folk singing without instrument accompaniment created and passed down by the communities of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces through labor and production, closely intertwined with the daily life and cultural practices of local people.
|
|
 |
|
Vi and Giam folk songs of Nghe Tinh (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2014) |
Specific songs are sung while people cultivate rice in the fields, row boats, make conical hats or lull children to sleep.
It was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on November 27, 2014.
10. Tug-of-war rituals and games (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2015)
Tug-of-war rituals and games are prevalent in the rice-farming cultures of East Asia and Southeast Asia as a form for communities to pray for abundant harvests and prosperity. They mark the start of the agricultural cycle and often begin with commemorative rites to local deities.
|
|
 |
|
Tug-of-war rituals and games (Inscribed by UNESCO in 2015) |
Tug-of-war rituals and games in Vietnam are practiced mostly in the midlands, the Red River Delta, and the north-central region, which are lands of longstanding Vietnamese settlement and the cradle of wet rice civilization.
On December 2, 2015, tug-of-war rituals and games in Vietnam, Cambodia, the Republic of Korea, and the Philippines were officially recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
11. Practices related to Vietnamese beliefs in the Mother Goddesses of Three Realms (Inscribed in 2016)
The practices related to the Vietnamese beliefs in the Mother Goddesses of Three Realms (heaven, water, and mountains and forests) aim to meet the spiritual needs and everyday wishes of Vietnamese people.
|
|
 |
|
Practices related to Vietnamese beliefs in the Mother Goddesses of Three Realms (Inscribed in 2016) |
They involve daily worship and participation in ceremonies, rituals like the spirit possession ritual and festivals at temples dedicated to the Mother Goddesses. These activities help maintain part of the community's history, cultural heritage and identity, with some aspects incorporating traditional costumes, music and dance.
The practices were inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on December 1, 2016.
12. The art of Bai Choi in central Vietnam (Inscribed in 2017)
The art of Bai Choi in central Vietnam is a diverse art combining music, poetry, acting, painting and literature.
|
|
 |
|
The art of Bai Choi in central Vietnam (Inscribed in 2017) |
It is a form of culture and recreation within village communities. It takes two main forms: Bai Choi game and Bai Choi performance. Bai Choi game involves a card game played in bamboo huts during the Lunar New Year. In the Bai Choi performance, male and female artists perform on a sedge mat, moving from place to place or on private occasions for families.
It was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on December 7, 2017.
13. Then practice of Tay, Nung, Thai ethnic people (Inscribed in 2019)
The practice of Then is a form of folk art which combines a wide range of arts, such as literature, music, painting, dancing, painting and performance. It is an essential part of the spiritual life of the Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic groups, reflecting their concept of the connection between humans, the world and the universe.
|
|
 |
|
Then practice of Tay, Nung, Thai ethnic people (Inscribed in 2019) |
It is performed during major celebrations of the new year, ploughing, and rituals wishing for safety, fortune, and good crops.
The Then practice of Vietnam's Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups was listed as intangible cultural heritage of humanity on December 13, 2019.
14. The art of Xoe Thai Dance (Inscribed in 2021)
Xoe Thai is a unique type of traditional dance associated with and playing a significant role in the daily life of Thai ethnic communities in the northwest of Vietnam.
|
|
 |
|
The art of Xoe Thai Dance (Inscribed in 2021) |
In the language of the Thai group, “Xoe” means dance with movements representing people's activities during rituals, daily life and work. It is performed in various community activities, from festivals to funeral rituals. Performers are members of the Thai community, regardless of gender, age, job and social status. Dancers usually form a circle around a festive flame and move to the sound of traditional melodic music.
This art was recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity in December 2021.
15. The art of pottery-making by Cham ethnic people (Inscribed in 2022)
In existence since the late 12th century, Bau Truc village in the former south-central province of Ninh Thuan (now Khanh Hoa province), is considered one of the very few ancient pottery villages in Southeast Asia that still retains the primitive production method from thousands of years ago.
|
|
 |
|
The art of pottery-making by Cham ethnic people (Inscribed in 2022) |
Because they are made entirely by hand, Cham pottery products are unique. Each product reflects the style, craftsmanship, ingenuity, and even the emotions and moods of the craftsman during the process of making the product. The making of pottery by the Cham people exudes a unique artistic value, preserving the fine customs and cultural identity of the Cham people in Vietnam.
On November 29, 2022, the art of pottery making by Cham ethnic people was officially recognized by UNESCO as part of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
16. Ba Chua Xu (Holy Mother of the Realm) Festival on Sam Mountain (Inscribed in 2024)
The Ba Chua Xu (Holy Mother of the Realm) Festival on Sam Mountain is a traditional celebration that has been passed down through generations in Chau Doc, the southern province of An Giang.
|
|
 |
|
Ba Chua Xu (Holy Mother of the Realm) Festival on Sam Mountain (Inscribed in 2024) |
Held from the 22nd to the 27th day of the fourth lunar month, it reflects the culture of Vietnam’s southerners as well as cultural exchange and blending with the Khmer, Hoa, and Cham communities.
The festival honors Ba Chua Xu and serves as a time for local residents to express their gratitude and respect for those who have rendered service to the nation.
On December 4, 2024, it was inscribed in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
17. The craft of making Dong Ho folk woodblock printings (Inscribed in 2025)
The craft of making Dong Ho folk woodblock printings originated some 500 years ago in Dong Khe street, Thuan Thanh ward, Bac Ninh province, where communities developed a distinctive style of woodblock printing.
|
|
 |
|
The craft of making Dong Ho folk woodblock printings (Inscribed in 2025) |
Themes span worship paintings, blessings, historical narratives, daily life and landscapes, traditionally displayed during New Year celebrations and in ancestral altars. Every stage of production, from sketching the design to carving woodblocks, preparing colors and printing, is carried out by hand.
The craft was included in UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding on December 9, 2025.
Source: VNA