Published:  00:00 Thursday - October 01, 2009

The United Nations Educational Scientific, and Cultural Organisation on October 1 has inscribed Vietnam’s Ca Tru on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Ca Tru is chamber music in which the singer is rewarded for each of her successful passages by bamboo tablets, which can be converted into money.

The recognised heritage will immediately be registered on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity or the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding and will be preserved at a international level.

A day earlier, Quan Ho was also recognized by UNESCO in the same category of Ca Tru.

Quan Họ folk songs form the northern provinces of Bac Ninh and Bac Giang, are performed as alternating verses between two women from one village who sing in harmony and two men from another village who respond with similar melodies, but with different lyrics.

More than 119 cultural items from 34 nations have been nominated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding but only 15 have been approved.

Vietnam has been commended for its vision in preserving its cultural heritages. Next, the country will nominate its Giong Festival and Xoan singing.