Hanoi pho, Nam Dinh pho and the Co people's art of decorating the Neu tree are included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has just decided to include Hanoi pho and Nam Dinh pho in the list of national intangible cultural heritage.

A traditional pho restaurant

Hanoi Pho and Nam Dinh Pho are honored

As of 2023, there are nearly 700 pho shops in Hanoi, spread across 30/30 districts, towns and cities in the area. Many traditional pho brands (over 2 generations of pho making) specialize in selling beef pho or chicken pho, mainly concentrated in the districts of Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, and Hai Ba Trung.

According to many historical records, pho in Hanoi was born in the early 20th century. Initially, pho was a street food, carried around and sold throughout the streets of Hanoi in the years 1907-1910. Regarding the origin of pho, up to now, there are many different opinions with 3 popular hypotheses: pho originated from the French dish pot-au-feu; pho originated from the Chinese dish nguu nhuc phan; and pho originated from the Vietnamese dish bun xeo trau.

The history of the formation and development of Pho is associated with the ups and downs of the capital, the memories of many Hanoians. Pho has followed the historical changes in the second half of the 20th century of Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular, developing very dynamically at a fast pace and expanding its area, becoming a popular dish in Hanoi. Behind each Pho restaurant is a separate historical story that creates pieces to better understand the cuisine and people of Hanoi.

Hanoi 30/30 districts, towns and cities in Hanoi have pho restaurants.

The process of making and enjoying pho contains the quintessence of the capital, the length of culture, the ingenuity and sophistication of Hanoi people. In the early stages of its formation, pho originated from a rustic daily dish, from a snack, and now appears on every street and alley in Hanoi to luxury restaurants and hotels. Hanoians are connoisseurs of food, fashion, elegance and grace in their lifestyle, so the process of forming Hanoi pho is also influenced by that style. Hanoi pho has the natural sweetness of stewed bones, the aroma of meat that is just cooked to the point of being chewy but not tough, the clear broth, thin and soft pho noodles, decorated with green onions and eye-catching herbs, reflecting the sophistication and meticulousness in eating of Hanoians.

Pho is not only a dish that exists in the consciousness of Hanoians in particular, but has now almost become a symbol of the rich cuisine of Vietnamese people in general and has gone beyond the territory of Vietnam, reaching the level of world cuisine. Hanoi Pho has contributed to enriching the pho of Vietnamese people in general. Pho has become a proper noun in a series of famous dictionaries in the world and is present in over 50 countries in the world.

At the same time, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism also decided to include Nam Dinh pho (Nam Dinh province) in the list of national intangible cultural heritage. According to statistics, Nam Dinh province currently has about 300 pho shops. Nam Dinh pho is also brought to all provinces and cities in the country and even abroad.

The art of decorating the Neu tree of the Co people is a national intangible cultural heritage.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung has just signed a decision to include in the list of national intangible cultural heritage the "Folk knowledge of the art of decorating the Neu tree of the Co people, Tra Bong district, Quang Ngai province".

Previously, the People's Committee of Quang Ngai province submitted a document to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on including the art of decorating Neu trees of the Co ethnic group in Tra Bong district, Quang Ngai province in the list of national intangible cultural heritage.

A decorated Neu tree in a village in Tra Bong district, Quang Ngai province. Photo: NGUYEN TRANG

The art of decorating the Neu tree of the Co ethnic group in Tra Bong district has existed and developed closely with the buffalo eating festival for thousands of years and has been passed down from generation to generation, expressing the cultural identity and bearing the mark of the Co ethnic group.

Mr. Ho Ngoc An (Tra Thuy commune, Tra Bong district, Quang Ngai province) is one of the few artisans who still preserve the drawing and art of decorating the Neu tree. Photo: NGUYEN TRANG

The Neu tree, also known as the buffalo-eating pole, is not only an offering in the worshiping ceremony but also a unique sculpture, vividly depicting the life activities and rich spiritual world of the Co ethnic group. The Co people believe that the Neu tree is the spiritual intersection between the gods in heaven and the people on earth. It is here that people show their respect, pray to the gods to give them a peaceful, prosperous life, a united village, love and help each other; at the same time, educate and teach the descendants of the Co people not to forget their ancestors.

The art of decorating the Neu tree of the Co people, Tra Bong district, Quang Ngai province. Photo: NGUYEN TRANG

The Co ethnic group's Neu tree is a unique decorative combination, different from the Neu tree - the ceremonial pillar of other ethnic groups, showing the typical value of folk art in the Truong Son region and the vast Central Highlands. The combination of painted patterns with the creation of shapes on the Neu tree is not simply a creation of beauty for entertainment and enjoyment, but also a way to send wishes to the gods for an increasingly better life. Therefore, the decoration art of the Neu tree of the Co ethnic group bears the distinct ethnic culture of the Co ethnic group.

MAI AN - NGUYEN TRANG

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/pho-ha-noi-pho-nam-dinh-va-nghe-thuat-trang-tri-cay-neu-cua-nguoi-co-duoc-dua-vao-danh-muc-di-san-van-hoa-phi-t-the-quoc-gia-post753753.html