Binh Lieu - A cultural region rich in identity

Realizing the Party's policy on building and developing Vietnamese culture and people to meet the requirements of sustainable development, and effectively and creatively implementing the province's leading resolutions on cultural and human development, the culture of Binh Lieu has been well preserved and promoted in recent years, truly serving as a solid pillar for the development and progress of the ethnic communities.

Dao Thanh Phan women look graceful in their traditional ethnic costumes.

The mountainous, border district of Bình Liêu has 96% of its population belonging to ethnic minorities, the highest in the country, mainly the Tay, Dao, and San Chi ethnic groups. Each ethnic group has its own customs and traditions, which have been recognized as valuable heritage that needs to be preserved and promoted to become a driving force for breakthrough and comprehensive development of the district in general and the ethnic minority communities in particular.

Thanks to the timely and coordinated implementation of solutions for building and developing culture and people, closely following the directives and programs of the central government and the resolutions of the province, the culture of Binh Lieu has been preserved and promoted, becoming a unique "resource" and a competitive advantage for this border region of the Fatherland. Culture plays a crucial role in helping Binh Lieu "transform," turning from a poor rural area into a vibrant new rural area.

From 2018, implementing Resolution No. 11-NQ/TU of the Provincial Party Committee "On building the culture and people of Quang Ninh to meet the requirements of sustainable development," to 2023, implementing Resolution No. 17-NQ/TU of the Provincial Party Committee "On building and promoting the cultural values and human strength of Quang Ninh to become an endogenous resource and driving force for rapid and sustainable development," Binh Lieu has issued many specific and creative action programs and plans that are suitable to the reality; integrating and linking the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage of ethnic groups in the area with the effective implementation of the "All people unite to build a cultured life" movement, and the Project "Preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of ethnic communities in Binh Lieu district in the period 2016-2020, with orientation to 2030."

Notably, in 2018, the district began implementing a movement to encourage the wearing of traditional ethnic costumes in government agencies and affiliated units under the District People's Committee. The movement was subsequently expanded throughout the district's education system, creating a positive shift in the younger generation's awareness of traditional costumes and the cultural beauty of their ethnic group.

In addition, the district is stepping up efforts to disseminate and promote the content of the resolution, directing the updating and supplementation of the historical, cultural, and human values of Binh Lieu, Quang Ninh into local educational materials; launching competitions and extracurricular activities to learn about history and culture, promoting the eight characteristics of the people of Quang Ninh: "Courage, Self-reliance, Discipline, Unity, Compassion, Generosity, Creativity, and Civilization," while also guiding the building and promotion of the image of the people of Binh Lieu with the characteristics of "Compassion, Simplicity, and Rich Cultural Identity."

The Luc Hon commune's arts club practices singing then songs and playing the tinh instrument.

To create favorable conditions for people to have spaces for cultural activities and exchange, thereby creating new cultural values, the district has mobilized and effectively utilized all resources to invest in a comprehensive system of cultural and sports facilities. To date, 100% of commune-level cultural and sports centers and village/neighborhood cultural houses in the district have been equipped with facilities according to regulations. The district has attracted social investment in a ^14,750m² sports complex with a total investment of 8 billion VND. The district currently has 7 commune-level folk art clubs and 28 village/neighborhood-level clubs with 600 members who regularly perform at local and national events and holidays throughout the year.

The restoration and organization of traditional festivals and celebrations have received attention. The Luc Na communal house festival, the Wind-Avoiding Festival, the Soong Co Festival, the Golden Harvest Festival, and the Hoa So Festival are not only maintained as beautiful aspects of the community's religious and cultural life, but are also gradually becoming attractive tourism products for both domestic and international visitors. Many customs and practices of ethnic minorities have been restored and documented for inclusion in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage: the Then singing of the Tay people, the Soong Co singing of the San Chi people, the Wind-Avoiding custom of the Dao people, and the New Rice Festival of the Tay people. Notably, the "Then Practice of the Tay, Nung, and Thai People in Vietnam" in Quang Ninh, represented by the Tay people of Binh Lieu, has been inscribed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

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