Two cultural elements in northwestern Vietnam named national intangible cultural heritage

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has recently inscribed the decorative art on costumes of the Lao ethnic group and the making of khau xen and chi chop cakes by the White Thai ethnic group on the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

With these additions, Dien Bien province in northwestern Vietnam now has 20 cultural elements on the list.

The Lao ethnic people reside primarily across 23 villages in Dien Bien and Dien Bien Dong districts. Their intricate hand-woven textiles have long been part of their daily life, symbolizing cultural resilience and economic empowerment for the local women.

The White Thai people, meanwhile, celebrate their culinary legacy through two iconic dishes: khau xen and chi cop cakes. The former is a delightful treat that combines rice, sesame seeds, chicken eggs and a touch of sweetness, and the latter, rice, sweet gourd and some specific leaves.

The recognition of cultural practices has played a significant role in preserving and promoting the cultural values of the ethnic groups in the province.