Tomyum kung has been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, along with the knowledge, skills, traditions and practices related to the production of kebaya traditional garments.

The decision was made on Wednesday (4 December) during the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Asunción, Paraguay.

Minister of Culture Sudawan Wangsupakitkosol said in a statement that the Cabinet decided in March 2021 to nominate tomyum kung to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. She said that the dish reflects Thai people’s lifestyle, as it is made by people living in riverside agricultural communities from local resources. It is an internationally popular dish and an important food soft culture item for Thailand.

Sudawan said in a separate statement that Malaysia contacted Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia, and Singapore in early 2022 to collaborate on nominating kebaya to the Intangible Cultural Heritage list. She noted that kebaya is a traditional embroidered shirt worn by women in Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and the south of Thailand, reflecting the region’s shared history and traditions.

Sudawan said that the five countries received compliments from the Committee for their nomination documents and video presentations, which were said to be a good example of a joint nomination, reflecting the role of intangible cultural heritage in building peace and mutual respect. She said that the inscription of kebaya on the intangible heritage list is an important step for Southeast Asia, bringing pride, a joint responsibility, and a commitment to the promotion and protection of cultural heritage at the regional level.

To celebrate the two listings, the Ministry is holding an exhibition between 6 – 8 December at Quartier Avenue on the ground floor of Emquartier shopping mall, featuring cultural performances, a kebaya fashion show, and tomyum kung recipe demonstration.

Sudawan said that the Ministry is also planning to implement a food and fashion soft power promotion plan in a bid to strengthen the economy through creative industries. It plans to encourage film makers, television series producers, and online media outlets to include tomyum kung in their content to boost the dish’s popularity.   It will also work with the tourism industry to make it a must-try dish for tourists coming to Thailand and encourage the government  to include it on menus for state visits and conferences. The Ministry plans to boost the popularity of kebaya by working with communities in areas with kebaya culture to develop a marketing campaign encouraging tourists to wear kebaya while sightseeing.