(VOVWORLD) - The Prime Minister has approved the development of dossiers for Cheo (traditional opera arts of the Red River Delta) and Binh Dinh traditional martial arts to seek UNESCO recognition as world cultural heritages.
 A scene of a play staged by the Bac Giang Provincial Cheo Theatre. (Photo: NDO) |
Cheo is a form of Vietnamese traditional stage art, which strongly develops in the north, especially the Red River delta.
With its roots in ancient village festivals, Cheo consists of folk songs with pantomime, instrumental music and dances, combined with instructive or interpretive sketches dealing with stories from legends, poetry, history and daily life, plus acrobatic scenes and magic. It tells tales of chiefs, heroes and lovely maidens and offers an eclectic mix of romance, tragedy and comedy.
The art form has undergone a long history from the 10th century, having a deep influence on Vietnam’s social life.
 A performance of Tay Son-Binh Dinh traditional martial arts. (Photo: vnanet.vn) |
Meanwhile, the South Central province of Binh Dinh is known as the cradle of traditional Vietnamese martial arts that has inherited the quintessence of the Tay Son martial arts schools under the Tay Son Dynasty in the 18th century.
It is closely linked to Vietnam’s history of national construction and defense.
In 2014, Binh Dinh martial arts was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.