"Tan An communal house’s Ky Yen Festival" recognized as national intangible cultural heritage

Early July 21, provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the People's Committee of Thu Dau Mot city held an ceremony on the announcement of “Tan An communal house’s Ky Yen festival" as a national intangible cultural heritage.

The event was attended by Nguyen Loc Ha, member of provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice- Chairman of provincial People's Committee; Nguyen Van Dong, member of provincial Party Standing Committee, Secretary of Thu Dau Mot city’s Party Committee.

Nguyen Loc Ha, Vice-Chairman of provincial People's Committee (left) awards the certificate of "Tan An communal house’s Ky Yen festival" named in the list of national intangible cultural heritage to leaders of Thu Dau Mot city, Tan An ward, and Tan An communal house’s ritual board

Tan An communal house was established in 1820. In 2014, it was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national architectural and artistic relic. On January 12, 2022, "Tan An communal house’s Ky Yen festival" continued being named in the list of national intangible cultural heritages by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Every year, "Tan An communal house’s Ky Yen Festival" is held in November of lunar calendar. This is an opportunity for local people to express their gratitude to ancestors, showing the typical cultural activities of residents with agricultural origin, praying for favorable weather, good soil and abundant crops.

Speaking at the announcement ceremony, Mr. Ha said that in order to continue well preserving and upholding the value of the festival, the city’s sector of culture, sports and tourism, Tan An ward, Tan An Communal House’s ritual board need to further promote propaganda and education to raise awareness and responsibility of the whole society, especially the young generation in preserving and promoting the value of "Tan An communal house’s Ky Yen festival” in particular and intangible cultural heritages in the province in general. Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism needs to soon advise on building a project to protect and promote the province's cultural heritages that have been named in the list of national intangible cultural heritage. He also asked for the media agencies to set up programs, special columns to introduce and promote the local cultural heritages, diversify forms of implementation to bring traditional cultural heritages to the masses in and out of the province.

On this occasion, provincial People's Committee awarded the certificates of merit to 3 collectives and 6 individuals. Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism presented the certificates of merit to collectives and individuals with excellent achievements in preserving and promoting the values of national intangible cultural heritage "Tan An communal house’s Ky Yen festival".

Reported by Hong Thuan-Translated by Kim Tin