Pauline Tamesis (R), UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, presents the UNESCO certificate recognizing Xoe Thai to a representative of Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, September 24, 2022.

The Xoedance is the 14th intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam recognized by UNESCO.

PM Chinh praised generations of folk artists and the Thai ethnic minority community for tremendous efforts made to conserve their cultural heritage.

"Xoe Thai represents a convergence of cultural beauty, therefore, promoting the art is the shared responsibility of all Vietnamese citizens," he said.

In his remarks at the celebration, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that the recognition of Xoe Thai as Vietnam's 14th heritage inscribed by UNESCO is a moment of great pride for the Thai people and the community of the country's 54 ethnic groups.

Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, said the Xoe Thai dance holds a special place in people's hearts.

"Xoe Thai reminds us of what's important in our lives: the deep relationships we form with family, friends, community and more," she said.

The dance is practiced mainly by Thai people residing in the four northern mountainous provinces of Yen Bai, Lai Chau, Son La and Dien Bien.

The Xoe dance involves people holding hands and performing six traditional acts, including welcoming, clapping hands, waving scarves and offering wine.

The noble and beautiful value of Xoe Thai dance should be promoted internationally and domestically, he said.

"As Xoe Thai represents the convergence of cultural beauty, promoting this art is our shared responsibility," Mr. Chinh noted.

Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, said that the Thai community and Vietnamese people should continue to maintain, promote, and disseminate the significance of Xoe Thai, while contributing more to UNESCO's activities and human culture.

The ceremony also featured a Xoe Thai dance show involving more than 2,000 artisans and performers, reported the VOV.

Tamesis offered congratulations for this significant event and wished that the Thai community and Vietnamese people would continue to maintain, promote, and disseminate the significance of Xoe Thai art, while also contributing more to UNESCO's activities and human culture.

Xoe Thai is a unique traditional dance that plays a significant role in the daily life of Thai ethnic minority communities in the northwest of Vietnam. It is performed in various community activities, from festivals to funeral rituals.

To continue to create new vitality, spread, and strongly inspire the value of Xoe Thai art, the Prime Minister suggested that the authority, people, and Thai community in the Northwest provinces, as well as the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, work cooperatively to effectively implement the "National Action Program to protect and promote the value of the intangible cultural heritage of Xoe Thai art" in accordance with the commitment to UNESCO.

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