A ceremony took place on Saturday to officially mark the handover of a certificate recognising the traditional craft of making fish sauce in Nam O Village in Lien Chieu District, Da Nang, as part of Viet Nam's national intangible cultural heritage.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Tran Van Mien (2nd, right) handing the recognition certificate to representatives of the Lien Chieu District authories and the Nam O Fish Sauce Making Association

To be recognised, the traditional craft has met national criteria relating to its reflection of local and community cultural identity, and the showcasing of cultural diversity and human creativity which have been preserved from generation to generation. In addition, it must prove a capability to maintain long-term survival, and be voluntarily nominated by the community that is willing to join in with efforts to preserve it.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Tran Van Mien said that the certification provides recognition of Nam O villagers for their dedication and devotion to this long-standing traditional craft through the historical periods.

The city leader underlined a must-do to preserve and promote the heritage values of this craft associated with the local tourism development. In particular, more plans should be mapped out so as to develop Nam O fish sauce into a unique product showing off the city’s distinctive marine culture and generating more socio-economic benefits, especially marine economy.

Residents from Hoa Hiep Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District, visiting a stall displaying Nam O fish sauce products at a recent fair held in the city.

The village, for the time being, is home to 92 families, 3 cooperatives and one enterprise involved in fish sauce making. A logo and collective trademark have already been granted for Nam O fish sauce by the National Office of Intellectual Property.

The Nam O fish sauce making village has a proud history covering more than 400 years. It is one of a few traditional fish sauce making villages that still operate in the country.

The Nam O brand of fish sauce tastes very different from similar products from elsewhere in the country thanks to its special recipe (fish mixed with salt at the rate of 3/1).

The Da Nang government, in March, approved to provide around 4.65 billion VND of funding in a bid to preserve the traditional craft of making fish sauce in line with the development of the city’s tourist industry. The intention is to preserve and promote Viet Nam's national intangible cultural values of the Nam O fish sauce making village, in parallel with making it more inviting to locals and domestic and international visitors.

By TRONG HUY- Translated by A.T