Dong Nai announces Sayangva festival of Choro ethnic group as national intangible cultural heritage

A ceremony was held on April 19 at the Choro Ethnic Cultural House in Bao Vinh ward to officially announce the inclusion of the Sayangva Festival (Rice Goddess worship ritual) of the Choro ethnic group in Dong Nai Province in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

The event was organized by Dong Nai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DoCST), with the participation of Head of the Representative Office of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST) in Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Huu Dat; Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee’s Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilization Le Thi Thai, Vice Chairman of Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee Nguyen Tan Phu, representatives of provincial departments, agencies, local leaders and a large number of residents.

Nguyen Huu Dat (left), Head of the Representative Office of the MoCST in Ho Chi Minh City, presents flowers to congratulate the DoCST. Photo: My Ny.

Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Deputy Head of the Provincial Party Committee’s Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilization Le Thi Thai presents flowers to congratulate the locality. Photo: My Ny.

The Sayangva Festival is the most important traditional festival of the Choro ethnic group, a long-standing community in Dong Nai with more than 16,000 people living in wards namely Bao Vinh, Long Khanh and Binh Loc as well as in communes such as Xuan Loc, Xuan Phu, La Nga, Phu Ly and Song Ray. Deeply rooted in agricultural beliefs, the festival expresses gratitude to heaven, earth and deities, particularly the Goddess of Rice, while praying for abundant harvests, peace and prosperity.

Head of the Representative Office of the MoCST in Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Huu Dat presents flowers to congratulate the Choro community. Photo: My Ny.

From mid-2022 to late 2023, the provincial museum conducted multiple field surveys to collect data and complete the heritage dossier in accordance with regulations of the MoCST. On June 3, 2025, the ministry issued Decision No. 1658/QD-BVHTTDL recognizing the festival as a national intangible cultural heritage.

This recognition not only marks a source of pride for the Choro community but also reflects the shared pride of the Party Committee, authorities and people of Dong Nai, acknowledging the enduring cultural values preserved and passed down through generations.

The organizer presents flowers and certificates recognizing the Sayangva Festival as national intangible cultural heritage to local authorities. Photo: My Ny.

Speaking at the event, Nguyen Khac Vinh, Deputy Director of the DoCST, emphasized that the recognition is only the beginning. More importantly, it entails responsibility for preserving and promoting the heritage in an effective and sustainable manner, in line with national orientations on cultural development in the new period.

Local authorities receive the certificate recognizing the Sayangva Festival as national intangible cultural heritage. Photo: My Ny.

He called on the department to continue playing its advisory role by developing plans to safeguard and promote cultural heritage in association with socio-economic development.  This includes regular inventories, heritage listing, data digitization and proposing outstanding cultural elements for future recognition, while also advising on policies to support artisans, reputable individuals and practicing communities.

Nguyen Khac Vinh, Deputy Director of DoCST, speaks at the ceremony. Photo: My Ny.

Local authorities were urged to proactively implement heritage preservation plans suited to their own conditions, linking heritage conservation with tourism development to create sustainable livelihoods, while ensuring that traditional values are maintained and not distorted by commercialization.

Choro people reenact the Rice Goddess worship ritual during the Sayangva Festival. Photo: My Ny.

Meanwhile, the Choro community was encouraged to continue organizing the Sayangva Festival annually in line with traditional practices. Village elders and artisans were also urged to pass on knowledge, skills and rituals to younger generations to ensure the sustainable preservation of the heritage.

A gong performance at the ceremony celebrating the recognition of the Sayangva Festival. Photo: My Ny.

At the ceremony, the representative of MoCST presented the official decision and certificate recognizing the Sayangva Festival as national intangible cultural heritage.

An artistic performance performed by the Choro ethnic community. Photo: My Ny.

On this occasion, the Choro community in Bao Vinh ward recreated traditional rituals of the festival and organized folk games, cultural exchanges and artistic performances.

A performance staged by Dong Nai Art Theatre celebrating the recognition of the Sayangva Festival as national intangible cultural heritage. Photo: My Ny.

By My Ny- Translated by M.Nguyet,  Thu Ha