Published:  00:00 Tuesday - June 23, 2009

Born in northern Bac Ninh province over 500 years ago, Vietnamese quan ho (love duets) folk songs may be added to UNESCO’s global list of intangible heritage of humanity in October.

One of 111 nominations, quan ho is said to have all the criteria needed to see its name in the final list.

Le Thi Minh Ly, deputy-head of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Department of Cultural Heritage, said the advisory council of the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage has already met and considered the nominations.

Quan ho made it through the first round, an administrative procedure assessment, as well as the second round, which assessed its value, history and the plan to protect it. If quan ho can sway the advisory council at its meeting from September 28 to October 2, the folk songs have a good chance to be recognised as part of the world’s cultural intangible heritage.

At this meeting, a board of leaders from 24 countries, including Vietnam, will make the final decision and publish “The 2009 List of Cultural Intangible Heritage”.

Vietnam’s ca tru (ceremonial singing) has also been nominated for emergency protected intangible cultural heritage. Experts are working on the application.