Performing art in Nghing Luong Dinh at Hue Festival 2008.

Nhan Dan – Festivals in Vietnam has been serving various purposes, especially in promoting tourism and creating revenue for the country. It is a special cultural and community activity that is embedded with national characteristics. The intangible cultural asset of the country is so diversified, and thus sometimes generating headaches for management.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, there are 7,966 festivals (including 7,039 folk festivals, 322 historical festivals, 544 religious festivals, 10 imported festivals and 40 others) 

Festivals reflect the daily activities, as well as hopes and talents of the people about various aspects of life. The demand for festivals can be seen everywhere, particularly for tourism and cultural festivals. Most of the festivals have kept their traditional characteristics, while importing and harmonizing some modern features. Through festivals, the people have chances to enjoy, and create cultural values.

The organisation of festivals have contributed to promoting tourism, generating revenue, and foster cultural exchanges among countries in the region and the world.

However, as there are more and more festivals being held, questions on the management of festivals are becoming more difficult to answer. If only half of the festivals are held, there will be 10 festivals a day in Vietnam – excluding newly created festivals. This generates costs, both financial and timing costs for the people. At the same time, some people abuse festivals to earn money, such as over pricing, organising superstitious activities, which, in a way, spoil traditional values.

Dong Da historical festival in Hanoi always attracts public attention.

The challenges that need to be addressed are not only the negative impacts of the market economy, but also in the changing values. In the past, festivals are only used for spiritual demands. Now, some activities of the festivals are organised just for commercial purposes, which undermine traditional cultural and ethical values.

Some tourism festivals, because of the lack of proper management and attention, have led to the destruction of the beautiful scenery and natural landscapes, and sometimes even parts of historical and cultural relics.

To protect the festivals, it is necessary to raise the people’s awareness of the festivals themselves, so that the values of the festivals are known to the people, so that the people can become protectors of the festivals’ values. At the same time, the organisation of festival should be thoroughly conducted, to gradually shape the festivals’ identities. Festivals’ rituals and games should be studied and piloted, to select the suitable ones for promotion.

Local authorities need to manage the different facilities and shops at the festivals’ sites to ensure the cultural characteristics of the services, as well as income for local service providers. More and more players should be given chances to invest in and protect the historical relics, while the income from festivals should be reinvest in the conservation of relics and festivals. 

It is necessary to select and protect traditional cultural values of the festivals, while leaving the backwardness behind. New cultural values, that are suitable, may need to be developed. Authorities should categorize the festivals, preserve traditional games, and pay attention to the special characteristics of each festival. Each region or area should have their own special festivals, with their special features.

TRAN THI TUYET MAI