Vietnam hosts symposium on Mother Goddess worship heritage

A symposium and practical demonstration of the ‘Practices of Mother Goddess Worship of the Viet’ took place on November 2 at the Thanh Son Linh Tu Temple in Phu Tho province. The event was organized to commemorate the upcoming 10th anniversary of UNESCO designating the practice as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016.

Participants, including cultural researchers, local authorities, and practitioners, discussed the evolution of the belief system from being practiced in secret to receiving official national and international recognition. Experts noted that while social and state awareness has significantly improved, challenges remain regarding the preservation of sacred spaces and the prevention of commercialization.

Practitioners expressed concerns regarding the potential for the ritual to become overly expensive or staged for entertainment, which could distance the community from its spiritual roots. The discussions emphasized the need for cooperation between management agencies and the community to protect the cultural and spiritual values of the tradition.