Keeping the Flame of Xoan singing Alive in the Flow of Development

On December 8, 2017, at its 12th session, the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage officially removed Xoan singing from the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding and inscribed it as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This remains the first and only such case in UNESCO’s history, affirming the heritage’s value, vitality and profound resonance within the community.

A Xoan singing performance from Phu Tho opened the Hung Temple Festival and the 2025 Land of the Ancestors Culture – Tourism Week.

During the 2020–2025 period, Phu Tho Province has continued to invest significant effort into implementing the project to preserve and promote the value of Xoan singing, achieving notable progress in both transmission and the integration of this heritage into sustainable tourism. Communication and promotional activities have played a pivotal role in bringing Xoan singing from ancient communal yards to contemporary audiences, mobilizing engagement from the entire political system and the media sector. Messaging has focused on highlighting restoration efforts and the significance of UNESCO’s recognition, while skillfully incorporating the promotion of Phu Tho’s culture and tourism. Hundreds of news pieces, reports and features have been produced and widely disseminated across traditional and digital media platforms. Provincial tourism information channels have continuously updated content, turning Xoan singing into a topic that attracts millions of visits.

At the same time, the Education sector has integrated Xoan singing into the school curriculum, ensuring that 100% of music teachers at all levels across the province have received training. Research, inventory and documentation have been regularly conducted, demonstrating the essential role of the community—particularly the four original Xoan guilds and local art clubs—as dedicated “keepers of the flame,” preserving the heritage through festivals associated with the Worship of the Hung Kings.

People’s Artist Nguyen Thi Lich (playing the drum) instructs core members of cultural clubs in Xoan singing.

Xoan singing continues to be taught and practiced regularly within the community with heartfelt dedication, ensuring sustainable transmission. In the four original Xoan guilds, artisans persistently teach members and students during weekend evenings or summer breaks, fostering a voluntary and growing interest in learning Xoan singing.

In terms of physical spaces and rituals, performance venues related to Xoan singing have been restored and refurbished. These locations serve not only as places of worship, but also as ideal settings for teaching, ritual practice and performances of Xoan singing linked to the worship of the Hung Kings. To honor silent contributions, Phu Tho Province has conferred the title of Xoan singing Artisan upon numerous People’s Artists and Meritorious Artists. The original Xoan guilds also receive substantial annual funding to maintain operations, alongside investments in infrastructure upgrades to support both preservation and tourism development.

Xoan singing performances for visitors are held not only in its cradle—areas surrounding Hung Temple such as Dinh Hung Lo and Mieu Lai Len—but also at other ancient communal houses and temples across the province. Distinctive tourism products have emerged, including the “Ancient Village Xoan Singing” experience and the “Hung Temple Night Tour” themed “Return to the Roots – Sacred Ancestral Land.” Hat Xoan has also become a featured highlight at many major cultural and political events at both provincial and national levels.

Le Hoang