The government has approved the submission of a dossier on the Via Ba Chua Xu festival in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang for UNESCO recognition as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 

The festival honoring the holy lady of Mount Sam in Chau Doc city takes place annually from the 22nd to the 27th of the fourth lunar month. The event entails a number of rituals, including a statue bathing ritual on the opening day.

According to popular mythology, the goddess statue was discovered at the top of Mount Sam and carried to the foot of the mountain, where it has been worshipped until today.

The festival features a variety of cultural activities, including music concerts, a dragon-dance performance, and a boat race. It was recognized as a National Intangible Heritage in 2014.

Source: VOV5