Preserving the identity of the Viet Bac highlands

At Viet Bac Mountainous Area School, bamboo dancing is not only a folk game but also a way to preserve the vibrant culture of the Northwest.

Preserving identity from simple things

Formerly known as the Viet Bac Autonomous Region Mountain Children's School, the Viet Bac Mountain High School was established in 1957, with a special mission: Training ethnic minority cadres for the northern mountainous provinces. The school is the "second home" of children of 34 ethnic minorities from 21 provinces and cities from Thua Thien Hue onwards.

From the early days with many difficulties, up to now, Viet Bac Highland High School has become a place of study and training for tens of thousands of ethnic students such as Tay, Nung, Dao, Mong, San Chay, San Diu... Each student comes from a different countryside, a different culture, but they study and grow up together under the same school roof, and are nurtured with the spirit of striving and deep national pride.

What makes Viet Bac Highlands High School special is the collective living environment closely linked to national culture. In school life, culture is not only on paper but is vividly recreated through speech, costumes, and traditional festivals such as: Lunar New Year, New Rice Ceremony, Cap Sac Ceremony, Long Tong Festival...

Here, folk art clubs such as then singing, tinh zither, panpipe dancing, brocade embroidery, etc. operate enthusiastically, becoming a familiar “breath” in every activity and event of the school. The school has brought the cultural beauty of each ethnic group into all teaching and living activities.

Lenh Phung Hue, a student of class 11C1, shared: In Local Education lessons, we learn about the customs, musical instruments, festivals, costumes... of our own people and other ethnic groups. This way of learning combined with real-life experiences helps me understand more deeply about my homeland and appreciate my national identity.

Teacher Nong Thi Thuy Huong said: Through lessons on festivals, customs, musical instruments, costumes, cuisine or folk art, students not only acquire knowledge but also experience and learn more deeply about the identity of their homeland.

This practical learning method has contributed to preserving, promoting and spreading traditional cultural values, nurturing national pride, and at the same time fostering the sense of responsibility of the young generation in preserving the cultural heritage of the highlands.

To spread the beauty of ethnic cultures in the digital age, Viet Bac Mountainous High School has effectively utilized media platforms. The school media team with members from the Radio and Media Club is the core force in creating content, building videos, and articles introducing customs, folk songs, cuisine, and ethnic costumes...

Spreading cultural values, building the future

The school is increasingly asserting its position with outstanding educational quality.

Not only preserving and promoting national culture, Viet Bac Mountainous High School has also achieved impressive educational achievements. Currently, the school has nearly 3,000 students studying in junior high school, high school and university preparatory programs. The quality of education is increasingly improved, affirming the position of a school rich in tradition.

In the 2024 - 2025 school year, the school's students won many outstanding achievements: 2 Gold Medals at the International Olympic Science and Technology Competition (ICPC 2025) in Korea; 18 national excellent student awards; 43 medals at the exam to select excellent students of specialized schools in the Northern Delta - Coastal region; 344 provincial-level awards...

Teacher Phung Thi Thu Hang, Secretary of the School Youth Union, said: Cultural values and knowledge always go hand in hand in all school activities. This is the foundation for students to develop comprehensively, become responsible citizens, attached to their homeland.

Armed with modern knowledge and traditional identity, students of Viet Bac Highlands High School today are confidently rising up, contributing to affirming the value of national culture in the general development flow of the country.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/giao-duc/202510/giu-gin-ban-sac-vung-cao-viet-bac-59f552b/