HCMC – Don ca tai tu, a genre of folk music popular in southern Vietnam, has been recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Katherine Muller-Marin, representative of UNESCO in Vietnam and head of UNESCO Office in Hanoi, handed an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity certificate for Don ca tai tu to Vietnam at a ceremony held last night at HCMC’s Reunification Palace. 

During the ceremony, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, artists from 21 provinces and cities nationwide performed this folk music to entertain audiences. 

The ministry announced a national action plan to protect and develop this art as pledged with UNESCO. 

Don ca tai tu has been present in the southern part of the country for over 100 years with many historical vicissitudes. Therefore, the urgent task is to promote its values and transfer it to the younger generation, according to Dang Thi Bich Lien, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. 

UNESCO earlier recognized seven other genres of traditional music including "Nha nhac Hue” (royal court music), "Quan ho” (folk music in Bac Ninh and Bac Giang provinces) and "Ca tru” (northern ceremonial singing) as intangible cultural world heritage.