Preserving folk culture and arts: In contemporary society

In the current process of cultural exchange, integration, and transformation, Thai Binh province – a place where the diverse cultural and civilizational features of the Northern Delta region converge and spread – has long been concerned with preserving and promoting its cultural and historical traditions. Particularly noteworthy is the active participation of the Thai Binh branch of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association. For the past 55 years, this branch has brought together dedicated researchers of folk culture, contributing to affirming the unique and distinctive values of the land and people of Thai Binh.

Members of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association branch in Thai Binh province exchange professional information.

Concerns about folk culture

In 1967, amidst the fierce resistance war against the US, the Vietnam Folk Arts Association was established. By 1970, the Thai Binh Provincial Branch of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association was one of the earliest branches to be established nationwide.

As the oldest member of the current branch, cultural researcher Nguyen Thanh continues to work diligently on his writing. He is one of two members of the branch who have had approximately 10 books published by the Vietnam Folk Arts Association. In addition, he has directly edited and authored many books about Thai Binh province. Concerned about research on festivals, traditional crafts, village regulations, and customs—all aspects of social life in rural areas—cultural researcher Nguyen Thanh says he has completed manuscripts that he hasn't had the opportunity to share with the public yet. His pride lies in the fact that the current members of the branch are more formally trained than his generation, providing a solid foundation for future research development.

Driven by passion and dedication, the Thai Binh branch of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association, despite its small membership, has produced numerous highly-regarded research projects both within and outside the province. The branch regularly and continuously collects and researches local folk arts. In recent years, members have actively contributed to the success of various conferences, including the international scientific conference on the preservation and promotion of the value of Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera), and the international scientific conference on "Le Quy Don, Life and Career." Furthermore, they have collaborated on and completed numerous research projects, such as the "Thai Binh Dictionary" (two volumes, each with over 1,000 pages); the book "Typical Intangible Cultural Heritage of Thai Binh Province," which introduces 13 heritage sites recognized by UNESCO and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; and educational materials for Thai Binh province.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hang, President of the Provincial Association of Literature and Arts, commented: "The labor and intellectual value contributed by the members of the branch association in researching, collecting, and translating for the field of folk culture and arts in Thai Binh province is immense. Particularly noteworthy is the research, collection, translation, and publication of research works on the history, culture, civilization, patriotic traditions, and revolutionary spirit of our homeland. Many major festivals, reflecting the province's cultural identity, have benefited from the contributions of researchers in the branch association in writing scripts for the opening ceremonies and contributing ideas to the management and organization of these festivals."

Professor, Dr. Le Hong Ly, President of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association, assessed: "The branch in Thai Binh is one of the branches with very in-depth collection and research activities on folk culture not only of Thai Binh but also of the surrounding area. From the 1980s to the present day, we have always highly appreciated the researchers with their systematic and meticulous work."

Creating a pool of talent for the next generation.

According to Professor, Dr. Le Hong Ly, the major difficulty currently faced by the branch in Thai Binh, similar to branches nationwide, is the small number of members due to the relatively strict admission criteria. Members must be active in the fields of collecting, researching, disseminating, and teaching folk culture and arts; they must have at least 2-3 articles published in central specialized journals or works on collecting and researching folk culture and arts... In the next term, the Vietnam Folk Arts Association is studying the possibility of expanding membership to include honored folk artisans, those who directly practice, preserve, and play an important role in promoting the value of cultural heritage in their localities.

Specifically for the branch in Thai Binh, with a relatively small number of members, in order to continue developing its membership in the future, the branch is currently encouraging the active participation of collaborators in research, translation, etc. This will practically create human resources to contribute to promoting the strength of traditional culture in contemporary society.

Regarding the future objectives of the Branch Association, Dr. Tran Hong Hoa, the Branch Association Chairwoman, further informed: The Branch Association will continue to focus on promoting the value and role of folk culture and arts in cultural development, contributing to the successful implementation of resolutions of Party congresses at all levels in the field of culture. At the same time, it will continue to promote and diversify the Branch Association's activities in practicing folk culture and arts in local areas.

In various forms, the activities of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association branch in Thai Binh province have not only contributed to identifying and unleashing the potential and creative potential of the land and people of this region, building the cultural life of each locality, but have also made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of the national cultural identity.