Public invitation to celebratory Lamvong event

Members of the public are invited to Patuxay Park on December 31 to celebrate UNESCO’s inscription of the Lamvong dance as a form of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

UNESCO has inscribed Laos’s Lamvong dance on the Intangible Cultural Heritage list. --Photo Lao National Radio

The event will run from 10:00 PM to midnight and is organised by the Vientiane Department of Information, Culture, and Tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism. It will feature Lamvong dancing, and participants wishing to join the dance must pair up with partners of the opposite gender.
Head of the Vientiane Information, Culture and Tourism Department, Ms Viengphone Keokhounsi, told the Vientiane Times that the event aims to celebrate UNESCO’s recognition of the Lamvong while promoting Lao culture and traditional dress.
“The event highlights the importance of traditional Lao attire and culture while celebrating the global recognition of the Lamvong dance,” she said.
“It also promotes the traditional dress culture of the 50 ethnic groups in Laos.”
Participants are encouraged to register online at https://forms.gle/DwJF9tuKpAGzxfJdA  and are requested to wear traditional Lao dress.
The event will also feature an exhibition showcasing large-scale models of the World Heritage List certificate for the Lao Lamvong dance, khaen music, and the Naga weaving motif.
Organisers hope the celebration will foster pride in Lao cultural heritage and attract locals and tourists to join in the New Year festivities.
The Lamvong dance was inscribed as a form of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO on December 5.
The Lamvong originated in simple farming communities as a way to celebrate the rice harvest. Historically, villagers would dance around a bale of rice to mark the occasion. The term “Lamvong” combines “lam” (dance) and “vong” (circle).
Over time, this celebratory dance evolved into a graceful routine, now considered Laos’ national dance. The basic steps are passed down from generation to generation and remain an integral part of weddings, national events, and community gatherings.
The dance is actively preserved and promoted by performing arts groups, women’s associations, youth groups, and the Children’s Cultural Centre, among others, according to UNESCO.
Recognition of the Lamvong follows earlier UNESCO inscriptions of the Naga weaving motif and khaen music as part of the World Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Additionally, Laos is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Plain of Jars, the old quarter of Luang Prabang, and Vat Phou Champassak.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update December 27, 2024)