A performance at the national ritual singing (Hat Van) festival.

The event promotes the singing in Mother Goddesses worship, which was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Nguyen Cong Trung, Deputy Head of the Thua Thien- Hue Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: “The festival is an effort by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to preserve this intangible cultural heritage. It’s also a venue where artists and artisans nationwide can exchange ideas”.

The festival will run through this Sunday, involving 16 art troupes. It features songs praising the homeland and songs performed in mediumship rituals. Van Phuong of the Vietnam Cheo Theatre said: “The festival promotes Vietnam’s intangible cultural heritages, especially mediumship, which includes music and poems”.

The Hue International Cuisine Festival 2018 opened the same day, featuring cuisines of Vietnam and other countries, including Laos, Thailand, China, France, Russia, and Italy.