Inscription of Intangible Cultural Heritage under UNESCO’s Convention of 2003: Application in Vietnam and Expectations of Community

Abstract

The process of inscribing intangible cultural heritage (ICH) under the 2003 Convention of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) can be considered heritagisation with the participation of stakeholders from international organisations and state agencies to experts and individuals. The multidimensional heritage inscription process has raised much scholarly debate and discourse in the mass media. The inscription recognises the values and functions of the heritage to the community and thus raises awareness about the significance of safeguarding the heritage, increasing interventions to safeguard it, and addressing stakeholder concerns of the heritage. Analysing the inscription of ICH in accordance with the 2003 Convention is of great importance for the same process in Vietnam.