Nearly 200 groups performed 20 typical songs and dances of Chau Van, at the first festival of its kind has been held in northern province of Ha Nam since Sunday.— Photo vietnamtourism.gov.vn

HA NAM (VNS) — Nearly 200 groups performed 20 typical songs and dances of Chau Van, at the first festival of its kind has been held in northern province of Ha Nam since Sunday.

Chau Van is a spiritual performance art accompanying the hau dong (mediumship) ritual of the Mother Goddesses' religion.

Most of the performing groups came from all over the province and four of them came from the neighbouring northern provinces of Lang Son, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh and Hai Phong.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has assigned the Viet Nam Institute of Culture and Arts Studies to spearhead the compilation of a dossier on Chau Van songs and dances and cooperate with concerned agencies in making the dossier, to seek UNESCO recognition of the art as an invaluable cultural heritage. — VNS