Kite Flying as Intangible Cultural Heritage in Vietnam: Embodied in the Community or Appropriating Culture?

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), intangible cultural heritage (ICH) must be embodied in local communities. However, this safeguarding process cannot be enforced worldwide. It is sometimes the case that ICH is appropriated into national property, particularly in developing countries. In this chapter, we examine kite flying in Vietnam, a form of ICH, in order to gain a sense of what factors are necessary for enabling a community to continue to embody that cultural heritage, rather than have it appropriated for national purposes.