Ancient singing, dancing become part of national heritage

Ai lao song and dance, a traditional ritual associated with the legend of Saint Giong’s defeat of foreign invaders, has been recognised as intangible national cultural heritage.

Legend has it that under the reign of the sixth Hung King—the legendary founder of Van Lang (now Vietnam), the country was attacked by northern invaders known as the An tribe.

 

In Phu Dong Village, Saint Giong is said to have ridden an iron horse to fight the foreign troops. After defeating the invaders, he supposedly rode the iron horse to Mount Soc in what is now Soc Son District and flew away, leaving his mother sad about his absence.

 

Then, the King ordered young herders who had tethered their buffaloes in Hoi Xa Village to follow Saint Giong into battle, to sing and dance to soothe his mother, which is how ai lao song and dance was born.

 

In Classical Chinese, ai lao means “tethering buffaloes,” and the young herders were called the ai lao troupe, according to researcher Cao Huy Dinh.

 

In 2010, the Giong Festival was recognised by UNESCO as an element of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage.

 

Aside from ai lao song and dance, six others practices were named intangible national cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

 

At present, Vietnam has 174 officially recognised elements of intangible national cultural heritage.

 

(Source: NDO)