Vietnam-ASEAN cultural heritage space opens

A six-day exhibition titled “Vietnam – ASEAN cultural heritage space” kicked off in Hoi An city, central Quang Nam province, on June 21.
Organised by the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the exhibition is a key event of the fifth Quang Nam Heritage Festival.
It is also marking the 10th anniversary of the Convention on the Safeguarding of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and celebrating the new Week of Culture and Development launched by UNESCO.
With the participation of ASEAN countries and Japan and the Republic of Korea , the exhibition aims to honour and uphold world heritage and the values of cultures from ASEAN member nations, as well as Vietnam.
Twenty third old houses have been brought to the venue, each providing the venue for the cultural heritage of 22 localities across Vietnam which have been recognized as part of the world cultural heritage or is pending consideration with the 23rd house dedicated to other ASEAN countries.
A number of festivals and traditional music performance will be organised to entertain and educate visitors.
At the exhibition’s opening, UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova presented awards to 11 winners of the “World heritage in your hands” painting contest launched nationwide by the UNESCO Vietnam Office and Panasonic Vietnam.
The winning entries will be printed on souvenir products, conveying a message of heritage protection to tourists..