Bac Ninh receives UNESCO recognition for Dong Ho Folk Painting craft
On the evening of March 27, at 3/2 Square, Bac Ninh province held a ceremony to receive the UNESCO Certificate recognizing the Dong Ho Folk Painting Craft as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. The event also announced the recognition of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiep Bac relic and scenic complex as a World Cultural Heritage, and inaugurated the "Back to Bac Ninh Heritage 2026" Festival.
Latest
 |
| Delegates attending the program. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
The program was attended by officials including Tran Sy Thanh, Member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Central Inspection Committee; Mai Van Chinh, Deputy Prime Minister; leaders of central ministries and agencies; representatives of UNESCO, a number of Embassies; the Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, along with a large number of locals and tourists.
In his speech at the ceremony, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Bac Ninh People's Committee Pham Hoang Son emphasized that Bac Ninh – Kinh Bac is a land rich in historical and cultural traditions, where many unique cultural values of the nation converge. Over thousands of years, this land has accumulated a rich heritage, significantly contributing to the cultural identity of Vietnam. While Quan Ho folk songs symbolize the soul and character of the Kinh Bac people, Dong Ho folk paintings are a unique heritage, embodying pure Vietnamese intelligence and aesthetic thinking.
 |
| Pham Hoang Son, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of Bac Ninh People's Committee, speaking at the event. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
According to Pham Hoang Son, from the shimmering do paper covered with điệp, and colors derived from plants, flowers, and stones, each Dong Ho painting is not just a craft product but a synthesis of folk knowledge, reflecting a harmonious lifestyle with nature and a desire for a better life.
UNESCO's recognition of the Dong Ho Folk Painting Craft as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding not only affirms the unique historical, cultural, and aesthetic value of the heritage but also acknowledges the persistent efforts of generations of artisans and the craft village community in preserving and transmitting traditional values. It also serves as a reminder of the shared responsibility to protect, restore, and promote heritage values in the face of contemporary challenges.
 |
| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van and UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis attending the program. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
The Chairman of Bac Ninh People's Committee also shared that, along with this joy, the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiep Bac relic and scenic complex has officially been recognized as a World Cultural Heritage. Within this heritage complex, Bac Ninh is honored to have two prominent relics: Vinh Nghiem Pagoda and Bo Da Pagoda.
These are religious and cultural centers closely associated with the formation and development of the Truc Lam Zen sect during the Tran dynasty – a purely Vietnamese Zen sect, rich in national identity and the spirit of harmony and engagement. This recognition opens up significant opportunities to continue preserving and promoting the heritage values, while also promoting the image of Bac Ninh – Kinh Bac to friends both domestically and internationally in a sustainable manner.
To effectively implement the Heritage Protection Action Program, Bac Ninh province is committed to improving mechanisms and policies to support the craft community and artisans. The province will enhance training and skill transmission, systematically incorporate heritage education into schools, and conduct systematic, scientific inventory, digitization, and research of the heritage. Additionally, the province will intensify promotion and raise social awareness about heritage values; diversify products linked to market expansion, striving to have the heritage included in the Representative List of Humanity.
Bac Ninh province also pledges to closely coordinate with Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong city to ensure unified management, maintaining the integrity, authenticity, and harmony between long-term preservation and sustainable tourism development for the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiep Bac World Cultural Heritage Complex.
 |
| Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, presents the UNESCO Certificate recognizing the "Dong Ho Folk Painting Craft as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding" to Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
At the ceremony, Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, presented the UNESCO Certificate recognizing the Dong Ho Folk Painting Craft as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding to representatives of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, as well as the Party, government, and people of Bac Ninh province.
In her congratulatory speech, Pauline Tamesis noted that the Kinh Bac region has long been known as the cultural cradle of Vietnam, where many unique heritage values have been preserved and passed down through generations.
 |
| Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, delivering a congratulatory speech. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
The recognition of the Dong Ho Folk Painting Craft by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, and the recognition of Vinh Nghiem and Bo Da Pagodas within the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiep Bac relic and scenic complex as a World Cultural Heritage, reflect the international community's acknowledgment of the unique cultural values. It also underscores the importance of protecting, restoring, and promoting heritage in contemporary life.
Pauline Tamesis affirmed that the United Nations and UNESCO will continue to support Vietnam in its efforts to preserve heritage, promote community participation, thereby contributing to cultural diversity preservation and sustainable development.
Within the program's framework, Bac Ninh province organized the inauguration of the "Back to Bac Ninh Heritage 2026" Festival with a series of distinctive cultural, sports, and tourism activities aimed at awakening, spreading, and turning heritage into a resource for development.The program consists of three parts: "Essence of Heritage" recreates the spiritual space, the cultural source of the Truc Lam Zen sect, and the cultural tradition of Kinh Bac; "Colors of Kinh Bac" vividly depicts cultural life with Quan Ho, craft villages, and Dong Ho folk paintings; "Millennium of Radiance" showcases the rich, dynamic, and modern Bac Ninh, leveraging heritage values as a foundation for sustainable integration and development.
Some images from the event:
 |
 |
 |
