Hai Phong takes part in preparing UNESCO nomination dossier for intangible cultural heritage 'Water puppetry'
The Government has assigned Hai Phong, Hanoi and Hung Yen to prepare the scientific dossier for the UNESCO inscription of the intangible cultural heritage 'Water Puppetry'.
The Government Office has issued a document conveying the directive of Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh on permitting the preparation of scientific dossiers for the intangible cultural heritages “Pho” and “Water Puppetry” for submission for inscription on UNESCO’s Lists.
After considering the proposal of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the consensus of the People’s Committees of the relevant localities, including the Hai Phong City People’s Committee, the Deputy Prime Minister agreed in principle to prepare scientific dossiers for the two aforementioned intangible cultural heritages.
With regard to the intangible cultural heritage “Water Puppetry,” the Deputy Prime Minister approved the preparation of a scientific dossier for submission to UNESCO for inscription, assigning the Hanoi City People’s Committee to take the lead, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Hai Phong City People’s Committee, the Hung Yen provincial People’s Committee, and other localities with practicing communities, to organize the compilation of the dossier, ensuring strict compliance with procedures, processes and relevant legal regulations.
Hai Phong’s participation in preparing the dossier for “Water Puppetry” is of great significance to the preservation and promotion of the values of this distinctive form of folk art, which is closely associated with the cultural life of residents in the Red River Delta.
Hai Phong has one of the most diverse and well-preserved systems of water puppetry practices in the Red River Delta region. Many traditional water puppetry guilds have been effectively preserved and promoted, notably those in Nhan Hoa, Hong Phong, Bui Thuong and Thanh Hai communes.
These communities continue to safeguard performance skills, puppet-making techniques and unique folk repertoires, while integrating water puppetry with cultural tourism. Performances are regularly staged for local residents and visitors. The Water Puppetry Troupe of the Hai Phong Traditional Theatre has a professional performance force.
Hai Hau