80 years of Nghe An Culture: Shining tradition, writing the future

80 years of accompanying the country, Nghe An Culture sector has inherited and promoted traditional cultural heritage, creating a "soft" passport for Nghe people to exchange and integrate with the world. That is the story of aspiration and rise in each period, is the affirmation of the intelligence and bravery of the team of cultural cadres preserving traditional cultural values ​​in contemporary life.

THE EARLY DAYS

Identifying information, propaganda, and ideological culture as an important front in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland, right after the successful August Revolution, on August 28, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh decided to establish the Ministry of Information and Propaganda with comrade Tran Huy Lieu as Minister. Since then, August 28 has become the traditional day of the Culture and Information sector for the past 80 years.

In Nghe An , after the government was established, the people of Vinh city launched a movement to support the resistance of the Southern people, responding to the "Southern Army", "Golden Week"... Organizations, unions, and mass organizations participated in many activities to organize donations to support the "Southern Resistance Fund". Artists organized a "Cultural Gala" with unique self-written performances. A period of culture accompanied and overcame difficulties in the early days of the country's founding.

In January 1946, the Ministry of Propaganda and Agitation was established, and in Nghe An, the name was changed to the Propaganda and Arts Department, with writer Bui Hien as its Head. This was an important milestone that opened the 9-year long resistance war against French colonialism. The central revolutionary task during this period was to focus on propagating "eradicating illiteracy", "eradicating hunger" and "eradicating foreign invaders". In particular, implementing President Ho's call for "National Resistance", many movements emerged in Nghe An such as "Popular Education", "Rice Jars to Feed the Army", "Building a New Life", "Sharing Food and Clothes"..., actively contributing to the success of the resistance war.

In 1947, the Information and Propaganda Department of Inter-Zone 4 was established with Mr. Nguyen Khoa Van (aka Hai Trieu) as Director. From here, the Information and Propaganda sector was organized into a system from the Central to the commune level, the personnel apparatus was also strengthened with the Propaganda and Arts Department staff of up to 80 people. Most of the Department's staff knew how to write, draw, give speeches, play music and compose. Short-term vocational training courses on drawing, radio editing, and singing teaching were also continuously opened, improving the expertise of the grassroots team.

During the years of resistance against the French, the Nghe An Department of Culture and Information became the spearhead on the propaganda and encouragement front. The forms of propaganda during this period were extremely vibrant. Communal house yards, warehouses, bushes... anywhere could become propaganda locations for information officers. Prestigious intellectuals presided over and disseminated resistance policies and guidelines through poetry, folk songs and the newspaper "Truyen Thanh", the mouthpiece of the Nghe An Department of Propaganda and Arts.

Entering the period of fighting against the destructive war of the American imperialists, in Nghe An, the officers of the Department of Culture and Information accompanied the people in the movements of “Three-ready youth” and “Three-capable women”. With the slogans “Singing drowns out the sound of bombs”, “Speaker sounds blend with gunfire”, each cultural officer was both an artist and a soldier bringing songs, books, newspapers, and films to serve the fight and production. In those days, using the warehouse yard as a stage, the artists took turns holding kerosene lamps to watch out for the enemy’s surprise attacks. They bumped into each other in the midst of bombs, yet laughter and singing still resounded.

Sometimes, while performing on the artillery platform, the enemy suddenly dropped a bomb. The artists then joined the soldiers, becoming effective ammunition suppliers for the anti-aircraft artillery. When the enemy withdrew, they happily cleaned the artillery platform together, and the singing resumed as if no battle had ever passed.

Uncle Ho with actors of Nghe An People's Art Troupe at the Presidential Palace. Photo: Archive

General Vo Nguyen Giap with actors of Nghe An Folk Song Theater. Photo: Archive

In the memories of the people of that time, watching documentaries, feature films... right in the tunnels, or in the cooperative warehouses were unforgettable memories. At that time, cinema was a shock force of the cultural sector. With a small staff and carts, they promptly carried the machines and films to the key points that were attacked such as Cam bridge, Sy station, Yen Ly station... To ensure the safety of each screening, Labor Hero Tran Van Giang, Captain of the Mobile Film Projection Team 109 of Dien Chau district, had unique technical innovations, which became valuable experiences for the entire sector to learn from. He used 40 meters of dark blue cloth to cover the light emitted from the film projector to the screen at night; used reflective glitter paper, facing the sky during the day to interfere with enemy aircraft, making them unable to detect the target. Witnessing his brothers using a motorbike to carry cans of gasoline from Hanoi to serve the movie screenings, Tran Van Giang successfully researched and developed a device to insert an auxiliary chain in the carburetor of a 4-stroke Soviet engine, reducing energy consumption from 3 liters per screening to 1.5 liters per screening.

316 Do Luong cinema team before going to work. Photo: Archive

It can be said that in the period of 1945-1975, from extraordinary efforts, overcoming many difficulties, a revolutionary culture with strong identity was formed. From the spirit of creativity, pioneering, from the loyalty to compatriots and comrades, Nghe An culture laid a solid foundation, a launching pad for strong development in the following periods.

In early 1976, implementing the Resolution of the Politburo, Nghe An and Ha Tinh merged into Nghe Tinh province. The spirit of “changing heaven and earth”, with the “big construction site” movement, created conditions for cultural activities to develop vigorously. This was the period when culture was brought directly to the construction site, serving production, meeting the cultural needs of workers.

During this period, despite operating under difficult financial conditions and lacking facilities, the Culture and Information sector achieved many successes. The Museum system was constantly expanded in scale. In addition to the Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum and the Kim Lien Relic Site, there were also the Nghe An Museum, the Quy Chau Museum, the Phan Boi Chau Memorial House, etc., creating initial conditions for the sector to enter the period of innovation.

NGHE AN CULTURE - PERIOD OF RENEWAL AND DEVELOPMENT

In August 1991, Nghe Tinh province was divided into two provinces, Nghe An and Ha Tinh. From here, Nghe An's Culture and Information sector entered a period of strong development, creating many important marks in the development history of the sector.

Building a system of basic cultural and information institutions

Identifying the system of grassroots cultural and information institutions as an essential condition for propaganda and mobilization work, Nghe An has built and developed a synchronous system of cultural institutions at the commune, ward and town levels from very early on, arousing creativity and promoting the internal strength of the people. Cultural officials have spread to localities to pilot new lifestyle models, from weddings and funerals to folk song clubs, folk songs, etc.

Nghe An province organized the launching ceremony of the National Solidarity to Build a Cultural Life in 2000. Photo: Archive

Ceremony to receive the Cultural Family in Nghe An. Clip photo: Dinh Tuan

With many creative ways, the movement of All people unite to build a cultural life has spread strongly, creating a driving force for emulation to build "Cultural families", "Cultural villages", "Cultural blocks and streets"... At the provincial level, implementing the linkage of activities between the Cultural sector and other sectors such as: Border Guard, Post Office, Transport..., has created a unified steering network, bringing cultural movements to develop from breadth to depth, deeply penetrating into people's lives.

In 2003, one of the important milestones was the inauguration and putting into use of Ho Chi Minh Square, a cultural project of national stature. This was the result of the determination to overcome difficulties, the crystallization of the sentiments of the people of Nghe An, as well as the people of the whole country towards Him.

The flag-raising and flag-raising ceremony was held on the morning of May 19, 2025 at Ho Chi Minh Square (Nghe An). Photo courtesy of Vo Hai

In 2008, after more than 1,000 days of construction, the temple of King Quang Trung on Dung Quyet mountain was inaugurated, becoming a cultural and spiritual highlight for the people when they return to the ancient land of Yen Truong. The temple is located on Dung Quyet mountain, in the present-day Truong Vinh ward. The mountain has 4 branches: long thu (dragon head), phuong duc (phoenix wings), quy boi (tortoise island) and ky lan, converging all four sacred animals: Long, Lan, Quy, Phuong. Every year, the temple welcomes tens of thousands of visitors to visit, make pilgrimages and worship.

Restoring traditional culture

Traditional culture is the soul of the spirit, the driving force of development, therefore, in parallel with the restoration and restoration of historical relics that have faded and degraded such as Vua Mai Temple, Con Temple, Qua Temple, ... the Culture sector has focused on restoring traditional festivals. Festivals are the link between the past and the present, a living museum of culture, where people look to identify themselves. Cultural officers and experts have closely followed life, building detailed festival scenarios. The ceremony is based on beliefs and previous rituals, reviving the sacred space accumulated through many historical ups and downs. The festival is open, integrating cultural elements from ancient times to new forms of performance, bringing a colorful space, imbued with the beauty of a region, a land. During this period, a series of new compositions serving the festival were also formed, and became traditional songs of the festivals.

Bach Ma Temple Festival. Clip photo: Dinh Tuan

Boat racing in the Mai King Festival. Clip cut: Dinh Tuan

Besides traditional festivals, many new festivals have been formed such as: Cua Lo Beach Tourism Festival, Drinking Water Remembering Its Source Festival, Sen Village Festival... With Sen Village Festival, from the idea of ​​a mass art festival gathering songs written about Uncle Ho, it quickly spread, becoming a national festival, connecting the passionate feelings of artists and actors across the country towards Him.

General Secretary To Lam and other leaders, former leaders of the Party, State and leaders of Nghe An province cut the ribbon to inaugurate the statue "Uncle Ho visits his hometown". Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong

Every five years, on Uncle Ho's birthday, the national Sen Village Festival is held not only as a "Ho Chi Minh cultural festival", but also as a living symbol of Vietnamese cultural life, where traditional and modern elements coexist, support and adapt to each other.

Other cultural heritages of Nghe An have also been effectively exploited and promoted, such as: collecting and publishing folk literature works on customs, crafts, music, folk festivals, etc. In this field, it is impossible not to mention the valuable contributions of Associate Professor Ninh Viet Giao, musician Le Ham, musician Duong Hong Tu... who have silently and tirelessly "dusted off, searched for gold", preserving the "golden veins" of culture for future generations. Dozens of folk song collections, folk songs , and the Nghe An Toan Chi collection have affirmed the unique and rich features of Nghe An culture in the flow of national culture.

Throughout history, Vi Giam has always been a symphony of the soul and character of the Nghe people, expressing a profound inner life, affection and loyalty. Since the 70s and 80s of the 20th century, in parallel with the collection of melodies, leaders of the Cultural sector have directed the development of Nghe Tinh drama. With perseverance, persistence and creativity, in 1985, the play Mai Thuc Loan was considered the birth of Nghe Tinh drama, affirming the birth of an official drama genre in the great family of Vietnamese drama.

Art program at the celebration of 10 Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs being recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity in November 2024. Photo courtesy of Thanh Cuong

In addition to the task of experimenting with folk song dramatization, the artists have traveled to all corners of the countryside, carrying out the task of preserving heritage, restoring the performance space of ancient craft villages such as singing guilds of fabric, planting guilds, conical hats, firewood guilds, etc. From the predecessors of singing guilds, folk song clubs have gradually been formed, becoming the "cradle" to nurture and develop the talent of Vi and Giam in life. Through many surveys, through many international seminars and conferences, on November 27, 2014, Vi and Giam folk songs became the 9th heritage of Vietnam to be recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, opening a period of brilliant development of Vi and Giam folk songs.

Development and integration in the digital age

In recent years, Nghe An culture continues to shine with innovative and creative activities. Street festivals such as “Homeland in Lotus Bloom”, “Colors of Heritage”, “Colors of Nghe An Ethnic Culture” have brought heritage closer to the public, enriching urban cultural life. It is still the same Vi Giam verse, still the sound of Cau Lam and Cau Thap, but now it has taken on a new look, conveying a vibrant and colorful life.

The world is increasingly digital, in that flow, Nghe An has deployed the application of virtual reality technology. Monuments, heritages, ... are no longer a form of display but become a story, a journey of discovery and unique connection. Digital transformation is truly a "push" that contributes to changing people's approach to historical and cultural heritages in a more positive, modern, vivid and personalized direction. Nghe An's Cultural Sector is integrating factors, aiming to develop the heritage economy, making cultural heritage one of the driving forces for local socio-economic development.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Luong is experiencing VR technology at Nghe An Museum. Clip cut: Dinh Tuan

Experience the touch screen at Nghe An Museum. Photo courtesy of Minh Quan

In the field of literature and art, within the general flow of the country, artists have reflected the breath of life in a genuine way, showing the unique mark of a land rich in historical and cultural traditions. Works of high ideological and artistic value, which have won domestic and international awards, continue to affirm the position and talent of the Nghe artists in and outside the province.

As historian Phan Huy Chu once assessed, “Nghe An is a place with high mountains, deep rivers, respectful customs, bright scenery, and is said to be more famous than in Nam Chau”. That land of geomancy, talented people, and literary achievements has created a distinct cultural region with a strong identity on the country's general cultural map. Inheriting and promoting internal values, while selectively absorbing the quintessence of human culture, over the past time, Nghe An has aroused the “soft” power of culture, making culture spread and penetrate deeply into the fields of economics, politics and social life, building the homeland to become increasingly rich, civilized and unique.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/80-years-of-transforming-cultural-art-and-technology-into-the-future-of-vietnamese-communication-10305363.html