Giong Festival expected to receive UNESCO’s recognition

The dossier for the Giong festival has been approved for the first round in the process of seeking UNESCO’s recognition as an intangible World Cultural Heritage.
The Giong Festival is held annually from the sixth to the 12th day of the fourth lunar month in Phu Dong village, Gia Lam district, Hanoi, as well as in some other regions of the capital including Phu Ninh village in Soc Son district and Xuan Dinh village of Tu Liem district. The main festival day is on the 9th day of the month.
The festival is to commemorate Giong Saint, a legendary Vietnamese hero who won the northern invaders.
Various activities are held during the festival, including procession, incense offering, Cheo (popular opera) singing performance, etc.
The festival is an opportunity to promote the traditional patriotism and indomitable spirit as well as reflect the aspiration to independence and freedom of the Vietnamese nation.