Giong Festival’s Heritage certificate received

January 24, 2011 | 09:23

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Head of the UNESCO Office in Hanoi Katherine Muller-Marin on January 22 granted the organisation’s certificate recognising the Giong Festival as the World Intangible Heritage.

Katherine Muller-Marin (third from the left), Head of the UNESCO Office in Hanoi, grants a certificate recognising the Saint Giong Festival as the World Intangible Heritage, Hanoi, January 22, 2011

Hanoi’s Giong Festival was recognised by UNESCO as the world intangible heritage on November 16, 2010, making it the city’s third world heritage following Temple of Literature as documentation heritage, and Thang Long Royal Citadel as cultural heritage.

The traditional and deep-rooted festival is celebrated annually in many parts of Hanoi to honor the mythical hero, Saint Giong, who helped people defend the country against foreign invaders.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the same day launched a National Action Programme on preservation and promotion of the Giong Festival for 2011-2015 period.

Accordingly, preferential policies will be developed to encourage people perform the festival in the districts of Soc Son, Tu Liem, Gia Lam, Dong Anh, Thuong Tin and Long Bien, with the aim to fully restoring the festival.

The programme also aims to raise the quality of Giong Festival education in secondary schools and universities.

VGP

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