The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has officially submitted documents to UNESCO, proposing recognition of Quan ho – the traditional love duets of northern Bac Ninh province – as an intangible world cultural heritage.

Dr. Le Thi Minh Ly from the ministry’s Cultural Heritage Department said that if Quan ho is recognised, it will be Vietnam’s third intangible world cultural heritage following the recognition of Hue court music and the Space of Gong Culture from the Central Highlands. Mrs Ly added that in March 2009, Vietnam will request the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO)’s recognition of Ca Tru, traditional Vietnamese ceremonial songs.