Preserving Khmer culture is linked to national unity.

On the morning of May 22nd, in Can Tho City, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the People's Committee of Can Tho City, organized a conference on preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of the Khmer ethnic group. The conference was attended by leaders from central and local ministries and agencies; religious dignitaries, monks, artisans, and scientists .

In her opening remarks at the conference, Ms. Trinh Thi Thuy, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, affirmed that the culture of ethnic minorities is an important part of Vietnamese culture; it is a crucial endogenous resource that contributes to the richness, diversity, and unity of the national culture.

Ms. Trinh Thi Thuy, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, speaks at the conference. Photo: MT.

According to Deputy Minister Trinh Thi Thuy, the Khmer people possess a unique culture with a system of Theravada Buddhist temples, traditional festivals, folk performing arts, language, writing system, and a rich treasure of folk knowledge. These are valuable legacies that need to be preserved, protected, and promoted in the context of current development and integration.

In recent years, the work of preserving and promoting Khmer culture has achieved many positive results; many types of heritage have been inventoried and restored; traditional festivals and arts continue to be maintained, and the cultural life of the people has been gradually improved.

However, according to Deputy Minister Trinh Thi Thuy, the preservation and promotion of Khmer culture still faces many difficulties. Some traditional cultural forms are at risk of disappearing; the number of artisans is increasing, while the transmission of knowledge to the younger generation remains limited.

In addition, urbanization, labor migration, and the impact of the market economy are changing the traditional cultural space of the Khmer people.

"Preserving Khmer culture is not only a cultural task but also an important political and social task, contributing to strengthening national unity and sustainable national development," the Deputy Minister emphasized.

Speaking at the conference, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diep, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City, said that the Khmer people are an inseparable part of the Vietnamese ethnic community, with a rich history, a tradition of solidarity, hard work, and a unique cultural life.

Delegates visit the exhibition of Khmer traditional musical instruments. Photo: MT.

According to Ms. Diep, Can Tho City currently has 120 Khmer Theravada Buddhist temples; many tangible and intangible cultural heritage sites are preserved and promoted. The city also has many artisans who have been awarded the titles of People's Artisan and Distinguished Artisan in the field of intangible cultural heritage.

Over the years, Can Tho has also implemented many policies to care for the material and spiritual lives of ethnic minorities; at the same time, it has paid attention to restoring festivals, preserving the spoken language, written script, and traditional arts of the Khmer people.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diep suggested that departments, agencies, and localities continue to pay attention to investing in grassroots cultural activities; support the preservation of the spoken language, written script, and traditional arts of the Khmer people; and at the same time raise awareness among the younger generation about their responsibility to preserve the national cultural identity.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/bao-ton-van-hoa-khmer-gan-voi-khoi-dai-doan-ket-dan-toc-post778720.html