The nineteenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (IGC-ICH) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, in Asunción, Paraguay, on 3 December 2024 (4 December in Thailand) decided to inscribe Tom Yum Kung on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for 2024.

Tom Yum Kung (hot-and-sour shrimp soup) is one of the most famous of all Thai dishes and a favorite around the globe. It is said to reflect the simplicity and the way of life of Thai people in farming communities, especially those along rivers and canals. The dish is also good for health, as it contains a mixture of herbs, such as lemon grass, galangal root, and kaffir lime leaves.

As for the nomination of kebaya, a traditional garment that is the shared intangible cultural heritage of five Southeast Asian countries (Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand), its inscription will be approved later tonight, 4 December, at 20.00 hr (Thailand time).

The Ministry of Culture is scheduled to hold the celebration for the inclusion of Tom Yum Kung and the kebaya as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from 6 to 8 December at EmQuartier Shopping Center, in Bangkok. The three-day event will feature an exhibition, a kebaya fashion show, a Tom Yum Kung cooking demonstration, and cultural performances.