Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh has given consent in principle to the writing of a scientific dossier on the pho (rice noodle soup) and water puppetry as an intangible cultural heritage that is to be presented to UNESCO in order to be listed in the heritage lists.

The Government Office has provided an official document to the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the chairpersons of the People’s Committee of Hanoi, Hung Yen, Ninh Binh, and Hai Phong about the issue.

That being the case, the policy of drawing up a dossier on pho to submit to UNESCO was granted the official approval of the Deputy PM following the decision by consensus of the People’s Committee in these two regions based on the proposal of the ministry to request permission to compile scientific dossiers on pho and water puppetry. 

The main duty of compiling the dossier and performing all the other related tasks has been entrusted to the People’s Committee of Hanoi in consultation with the ministry, the People’s Committee of Ninh Binh, among other localities where the communities practise the heritage, and in a strict and legal manner.

With regard to water puppetry, the Deputy PM also sanctioned the policy of drawing up a scientific dossier to be presented to UNESCO. The coordinating agency will be the People Committee of Hanoi, which will coordinate with the ministry, the People Committee of Hai Phong and Hung Yen, and other localities where there are practising communities to finalise the dossier and its associated procedures in accordance with the legal regulations.

In 2012, water puppetry became a national intangible cultural heritage. Pho of Nam Dinh and Hanoi was later recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2024.