The two musical forms in question are Ca Tru (ceremonial singing) and Quan Ho Bac Ninh (Bac Ninh folk love duets).

At a press briefing in Hanoi on October 12, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Ca Tru has been listed as a cultural heritage in need of urgent protection and Quan Ho Bac Ninh as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Deputy Director of the Ministry’s Department of Cultural Heritage Le Thi Minh Ly said Ca Tru, which dates back to the 15th century, is listed among the intangible global cultural heritage traditions in danger of disappearing due to prolonged periods of war and inadequate awareness.

According to her, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to work with relevant agencies and localities to take urgent measures from now through 2020 to protect and promote the arts.

They will systemize all related documents from 14 provinces and cities that have Ca Tru in order to build a database on the art at the Vietnam Music Institute, and to compile curricula on Ca Tru performance for training at musical schools.

The ministry also plans to translate some 4,000 pages of Chinese-transcribed Vietnamese documents on Ca Tru and publish a collection of such documents.

In addition, it will put in place preferential policies for 12 senior master artists, open training courses on Ca Tru performance in 14 localities, organise Ca Tru festivals, publish a collection and a DVD of Ca Tru songs, restore some relic sites to worship Ca Tru ancestors, and popularise the art in schools.

Quan Ho, which originated in the northern province of Bac Ninh in around the 13th century, will receive similar benefits and support.

Previously, Nha Nhac Hue (royal court music) of the Nguyen Dynasty and the Area of Cong Chieng (gongs) Culture in the Central Highlands of Tay Nguyen were also recognised by the UNESCO as part of the World’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Last September, the resort, together with several others in Vietnam made commitments to following the highest environmental standards set by the Green Globe International, Inc.

It was assessed according to eight performance criteria, including waste treatment, pollution and noise reduction, and energy and water consumption control.

Steward Moore, Green Globe top official said Novotel Phan Thiet is a prime example of an organisation committed to environmentally sustainable tourism. “The Novotel’s commitment to participating in the Green Globe programme and its achievements set an example for other businesses to follow,” he said.

Novotel Phan Thiet Resort, located 200km north of Ho Chi Minh City, is one of the most pristine beach environments in the country. The resort offers 123 elegantly furnished rooms with view to the picturesque Phan Thiet coastline.

Green Globe certificate is a worldwide renowned distinction provided by the Australia-based Green Globe, a system assisting the travel and tourism industry to attain sustainability. Green Globe provides a certification system that responds directly to the major environmental problems facing the planet, including climate change, waste reduction and non-renewable resource management.

Joining thousands of local people on the occasion were Truong Tan Sang, Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat; Tong Thi Phong, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and National Assembly Vice Chairwoman; Huynh Dam, member of the Party Central Committee and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Lo Mai Trinh spoke of the great significance of the victory – one of the glittering feat of arms and a golden mark in the country’s history of fighting against foreign aggressors for national liberation, construction and defence.

After 55 years of liberation, the province has focused on overcoming the aftermath of the war, promoting economic restructuring and developing its potentials. Its economy grew by 8.3% annually in the 2001-05 period and the rate reached 10.87% per year from 2006-08. The proportion of industry, construction and services in the province’s economy has been rising year after year.

The Party and State have recognized the accomplishments of Dien Bien Province with numerous honours, including the Gold Star Medal, the Ho Chi Minh Medal, the Independence Medal and Labour Medal.

On this occasion, Dien Bien was bestowed with the Ho Chi Minh Medal for the second time.

A procession and an art-sport programme were also held to mark the event.

The MoU was signed during a working visit of a HRPC delegation to the Republic of Korea (RoK) from October 22-27.

Under the MoU, the two sides plan to jointly organise an exhibition on objects used by the Hue royal court at the NPMK at the end of 2010.

They also agreed to boost cooperation and exchange in antique exhibitions, personnel training and professional research in line with the agreement signed between the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism and the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea in 2006.

During the visit, the Vietnamese delegation also reported on the management and preservation of the Hue Imperial City at the annual meeting of the Korean Association for Public Administration.