Tourism "shakes hands" with Khmer culture in the land of Nine Dragons

In recent years, along with the implementation of the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021–2030; Phase I from 2021–2025 (National Target Program 1719) has supported important resources and added motivation to the work of preserving and promoting fine traditional cultural values. Thanks to that, tourism activities associated with Khmer culture have had many significant developments, considered a new feature, creating attractive tourism products that attract tourists.

Khmer art performance within the framework of the annual Cultural and Tourism Festival event of Bac Lieu province. (Photo: Phuong Nghi)

Join hands to preserve the culture of the Khmer people

Every year, on major festivals, the Khmer people's phums and squirrels are extremely bustling. The uniqueness and bustle of these festivals have attracted thousands of domestic and foreign visitors to Bac Lieu. Along with festivals, Khmer pagodas with unique architecture are also attractions for tourists from all over with many colorful traditional folk art performances.

Mr. Thach Quyet in Cu Lao hamlet (Hung Hoi commune, Vinh Loi district, Bac Lieu province) shared: "Most traditional festivals and cultural activities of the Khmer people are associated with the temple. However, cultural institutions invested in the hamlets also play an important role in connecting the community and promoting cultural and artistic movements at the grassroots level, including the organization of the Great Festival. Solidifying the entire nation in residential areas every year is proof. In addition to the Khmer pagoda, this is also a space to preserve and promote the beauty of Khmer culture."

The cultural activities preserved by the Khmer people show strong vitality through traditional music and art forms. For that reason, Xiem Can Pagoda (Vinh Trach Dong commune, Bac Lieu city, Bac Lieu province) has established a culture and arts team (Arts Team) to preserve the inherent cultural values ​​of the Khmer people, At the same time, it serves local people and tourists from near and far to enjoy the temple scene.

Venerable Duong Quan, abbot of Xiem Can Pagoda, shared: "Since the Performing Arts Team, more and more local people and tourists come to the pagoda. That is a good sign, because Khmer art still has strong vitality...".

Recently, localities with large numbers of Khmer people have implemented many solutions synchronously. Besides, living standards are increasingly improving, creating favorable conditions for Khmer people to come into contact with new cultural products.

Ms. Tran Thi Lan Phuong, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Bac Lieu province said: "In the past two years, Bac Lieu has organized performances and re-enactments of two traditional festivals of the Khmer ethnic people. is Chol Chnam Thmay Tet, Ok Om Bok festival. Currently, Bac Lieu is the only locality in the region that has a traditional art performing theater serving audiences every week. Performances with traditional costumes, recreating traditional festivals in a concise, easy-to-understand way, attract many tourists.

In addition, financial support was provided for 2 performance teams of Xiem Can Pagoda to purchase costumes and activities to serve tourism; Organize competitions in traditional Khmer ethnic sports in cultural and sports festivals and festivals of the Khmer people. At the same time, producing documentary films about preserving traditional festivals of the Chinese and Khmer ethnic groups; Building products, services, connecting tours and routes to attract tourists.

To preserve and promote the value of the Khmer folk dance performance art form, many villages in the Nine Dragons region regularly organize dances in community activities. (Photo: Phuong Nghi)

Promote traditional cultural and artistic values

Currently, Soc Trang has 8 intangible cultural heritages, of which 5 are of the Khmer people: Ngo boat racing festival, Du ke stage performance art, Rom Vong folk dance performance art. , the art of performing Five-Sound music, the stage art of Ro Hash. Among them, the most famous is the Ok Om Bok festival - Boat racing held in the 10th lunar month every year at the end of the harvest season.

In the joy and pride of the Khmer people of Soc Trang, the art of performing five-syllable folk music and Rom Vong dance of the Khmer people is a form of culture and art that is formed and associated with cultural activities. culture and festivals in areas where many Khmer people live to meet the cultural and spiritual needs of the Khmer people.

Mr. Luu Thanh Hung, Head of the Khmer Art Troupe of Soc Trang Province, said: "Recently, the Khmer Art Troupe of Soc Trang Province organized two classes to teach Ro Hash theater art, Five-sound music and Rom Vong dance. for 2 students to participate. The students are actors, students, musicians and people who are passionate about dance and music from teams and art and cultural activities at Khmer pagodas and ethnic boarding schools...

“Through this training and teaching work, we aim to equip students with more complete knowledge about the traditional arts of the Khmer people, to preserve, conserve and promote traditional values. good system of various types of national intangible cultural heritage", Mr. Hung shared.

The art of performing Five-Sound music always creates appeal and attracts a large number of people and tourists. (Photo: Phuong Nghi)

Recognizing those unparalleled cultural values ​​in the colorful culture of the Khmer ethnic people, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Soc Trang province directed a specialized unit to advise on the development of a Project to protect the Khmer people. preserve and promote the value of this type of folk performing art. First of all, we must urgently take a complete inventory to better understand the culture of the Khmer ethnic people in order to devise a plan to preserve and preserve cultural heritage values ​​from being lost.

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Soc Trang province, Mr. Son Thanh Liem, currently, Khmer pagodas in the province are aiming to build complete cultural institutions. From within the temples and squirrels of the Khmer community of Soc Trang, the sound of Five-Sound music is always heard, the Roman dance is still passionate... In recent times, Soc Trang has actively supported Khmer pagodas in terms of facilities and funding. Build venues for community cultural and religious activities, in order to contribute to preserving and preserving typical types of traditional cultural heritage and discovering new talents for culture and art. ethnic people of the province.

The graceful, gentle, and gentle Rom Vong dance is an indispensable spiritual dish after hours of work. (Photo: Phuong Nghi)

“Currently, Soc Trang province has opened Rom Vong dance classes at the Cultural Center, Library, Museum and Freshwater Lake Cultural and Exhibition Center organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Soc Trang. Organizing dance classes for the Khmer ethnic community in Soc Trang province. The students were taught basic dance skills in community activities of the Khmer ethnic group by the coach of the Provincial Khmer Art Troupe," Mr. Liem said.

Thanks to the attention and focus on improving spiritual life, the work of preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values ​​of the Khmmer people is also associated with creating livelihoods for ethnic minorities through conservation projects. exist in association with tourism development and tourist services.