Laos is preparing to nominate its famous traditional Lam Vong dance, where both females and males dance in a circle incorporating graceful hand movements, for UNESCO World Heritage status.
On 9 March, a meeting led by the Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism allowed representatives from relevant sectors to deliberate the possibility of nominating this quintessential element of Lao culture for prestigious UNESCO World Heritage status.
Participants of the meeting also discussed the possibility of nominating other cultural elements such as Lao New Year, almsgiving, Baci ceremony and Kong Khao Festival for UNESCO World Heritage status.
According to the definition provided by UNESCO, intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is made up of oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, and traditional craftsmanship knowledge and techniques.
Its importance lies not in the cultural manifestation itself, but in the heritage of the knowledge and techniques that are passed on, revealing social and economic value for both human groups and entire countries.