The information was released during a working session on external information service work between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung, who is also Chairman of Vietnam’s National UNESCO Committee, and leaders of Yen Bai province on November 9.

Xoe Thai is a unique type of traditional dance that is associated with and plays a significant role in the daily life of Thai ethnic communities in the northwest of Vietnam, especially in the provinces of Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La and Yen Bai.

It is performed in various community activities from festivals to funeral rituals.

There are about 30 Xoe dances, which have been developed, protected and handed down through generations intact over hundreds of years, including Xoe quat (Xoe dance with a fan), Xoe khan (Xoe dance with a scarf), Xoe non (Xoe dance with a conical hat) and many others with contents reflecting community activities and expressing the Thai people’s emotion.

As the ancestral land of Thai Den ethnic, Muong Lo area (including  Nghia Lo town and several communes in Van Chan district) is preserving six ancient dances of Xoe Thai, including "Kham khen”, "Nhom khan”, "Don hon”, "Pha xi”, "Kham khan moil au”, and "Om lom top mu”.

The art of Xoe Thai in Muong Lo-Nghia Lo was recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2015.

A massive Xoe dance staged by 2,013 people at the opening ceremony of Muong Lo Culture and Tourism Week and Mu Cang Chai Terraced Field Festival in 2013 set a Vietnam Guinness record.

Last year, Yen Bai province held the largest Xoe dance, drawing the participation of 5,000 people.

This year, more than 2,000 people from Nghia Lo town and Van Chan district engaged in the performance of six ancient dances together with street art, impressing domestic and foreign visitors.

The building of the dossier of Xoe Thai to apply for UNESCO recognition was initiated in 2016 with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issuing Document No.2715/BVHTTDL-DSVH. Under the document, the People’s Committee of Yen Bai province was assigned to join hands with competent authorities and Lai Chau, Son La and Dien Bien provinces to study and build national dossier for the Xoe Thai art to seek the UNSECO’s recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity./.