• Dried shrimp making and Ba Thuy Long Festival are national intangible cultural heritages.
  • Announcing the national intangible cultural heritage of dried shrimp making
  • Announcing the National Intangible Cultural Heritage of the festival "Via Ba Thuy Long", Thanh Tung
  • Promoting the value of intangible cultural heritage

Ca Mau not only attracts tourists by the wild beauty of the vast mangrove and cajuput forests, or the crisscrossing canals, but also by its unique cultural treasure. In particular, this is also the place where the cultures of three ethnic groups converge: Kinh - Khmer - Hoa. Since the end of the 17th century, many Kinh, Khmer, and Hoa migrants have chosen Ca Mau as a stopover and together reclaimed the land, developed the forest exploitation and seafood industry, gradually forming a unique, rustic and vibrant river culture.

Vinh Hung National Special Archaeological Site, Trung Hung IB Hamlet, Chau Thoi Commune.

The process of cohabitation and cultural exchange has left deep impressions through historical relics, architectural works, traditional crafts and unique festivals. Each ethnic group, although integrated into the common flow, still maintains its own identity, creating a colorful cultural picture, enriching the spiritual life of Ca Mau people.

The cultural treasure has been enriched and enriched after the merger. Currently, Ca Mau has 7 intangible cultural heritages that have been included in the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritages by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, including: Traditional craft of Bee-roofing, Traditional craft of Salting of Ba Khia, Traditional craft of Folk knowledge, Dried shrimp making, Traditional craft of Salt making in Bac Lieu , Nghinh Ong Song Doc Festival, Ba Thuy Long Festival; The art of big drum music of the Khmer people.

National Intangible Cultural Heritage Song Doc Whale Festival.

Along with the National Intangible Cultural Heritage, Ca Mau is also proud to be one of the "cradles" of the art of Southern amateur music - recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Southern amateur music is not only an art form but also the breath of life, the voice of the people of the South in general, and Ca Mau in particular, expressing the sophistication, lyricism and freedom of the soul. The presence of Southern amateur music in the list of representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity further affirms the position and contribution of Ca Mau to the treasure of World Cultural Heritage.

Regarding tangible cultural heritage, as of July 2025, the whole province has 111 relics and tens of thousands of artifacts of historical, cultural, scientific and aesthetic value. This number shows the richness and diversity of tangible cultural heritage in the province. In particular, it is proud to own 3 special national relics including: Ho Chi Minh Sea Trail (Ben Vam Lung), Cai Chanh Base Area, Vinh Hung Archaeological Site.

National Monument Kosthum Pagoda, Co Thum Hamlet, Ninh Thanh Loi Commune.

Along with that, the province also has 24 national relics including: Southern amateur music and musician Cao Van Lau memorial site, Thanh Hoang ancient temple (Vinh Trieu Minh), Kosthum pagoda; Ninh Thanh Loi peasant uprising site in 1927; Hong Anh Thu Quan; Dam Doi - Cai Nuoc - Cha La victory site; Thien Hau Cung (Thien Hau Pagoda)... In addition, there are 84 provincial relics, which are heritages with typical historical, cultural and scientific values ​​of the locality.

With a vivid and massive treasure of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, it not only affirms the rich and unique cultural identity of the southernmost land of the Fatherland, but also serves as a driving force for local socio-economic development. However, to preserve and promote the value of these heritages, it requires the tireless efforts of the government, specialized agencies and the entire community. Conservation work does not stop at restoration and embellishment, but also focuses on research, inventory, scientific documentation and especially promoting traditional education to contribute to raising awareness of the people, especially the younger generation.

Salt making in Bac Lieu was formed and developed for more than 100 years. Photo: HOAI NAM

Furthermore, the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage values ​​must be associated with sustainable tourism development, creating livelihoods for the community, while ensuring respect for original values. Only then will Ca Mau’s cultural heritage truly become a priceless asset, passed down to future generations and contributing to enriching Vietnamese culture./.

Tang Vu Khac

Source: https://baocamau.vn/phong-phu-di-san-van-hoa-a121348.html