Vietnam makes Unesco bids: 15-08-2008
Vietnam has asked the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) to officially recognize the Hue royal festivals and dances as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, it has been revealed.
The moves comes soon after the Vietnam News Agency reported Vietnam is set to lobby Unesco for the ancient citadel ruins in the country's capital Hanoi to be declared a World Heritage site.
The move to secure Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity status for the Hue royal festivals and dances was announced by Phung Phu, director of the Hue Preservation Centre.
Explaining his reasoning behind the decision, Mr Phu told Vietnamnet that the events have received much praise from spectators over recent years, and pointed to the success of the resolution to revive royal dances such as Luc cung hoa dang (Six floral lamp worship offering) and Lan mau xuat lan nhi (a mother lion giving birth to a baby lion).
The criteria for selection as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity includes the extent of the role played in contemporary culture and society and the degree to which it has roots in cultural tradition.
Meanwhile, Vietnam is hopeful that the citadel ruins will be classed as a World Heritage site in time for Hanoi's 1000th birthday in 2010, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.