Muong ethnic girls in Muong Ethnic Minority Culture Festival 2007
in Hoa Binh province

Nhan Dan – The preservation and promotion of the national cultural identity has attracted public attention over the past year.

The international cultural exchanges have increasingly developed. This has created the chances for Vietnam to relate to the world’s culture. However, this also requires more attention paid by all people to preserve national culture more than ever.

The movement of all people to build up new cultural lifestyle has been carried out nationwide. The focus of the activity is the first ever national conference to praise outstanding families held late this year in Hanoi. More than 900 families representing for 40 nationalities attended the conference. This aimed to honour the traditional culture value of families.

The movement to build up new cultural lifestyle among all families nationwide has achieved positive results, contributing to raising the people’s cultural life and developing the household economy.

The preservation of intangible and tangible cultural heritages over the past year has received the people’s strong support. Apart from investment from the State for restoration of great cultural sites, people have also contributed money to restoring pagodas, temples and other cultural relics.

At present, nearly 3,000 cultural sites have been recognised. Of which, 17 historical remains, 23 artistic architectural sites, four archaeological sites and five places of interest have been recognised in 2007. There are 125 museums nationwide, including five private museums with more than two million objects, over four hundred thousands more than 2006.

Apart from traditional festivals of localities, the culture, sports and tourism sector have organised great festivals for ethnic minority people in Yen Bai, Hoa Binh and Ho Chi Minh City.

It is cultural heritage which has attracted many tourists to the country. Vietnam this year received 4,2 international tourists.  

Preservation has also made in preserving and promoting national artistic genres. Festivals of tuong (classical theatre) and ca tru (chamber singing) have been organised. Vietnamese culture has been introduced in many countries through culture weeks.

The Party and State of Vietnam has paid attention to preserving and developing national cultural identity, considering it a motivation and target for the development and a spiritual foundation of society.

By Nguyen Thu Hien