Preserving and promoting folk melodies of Vi and Dam

Cultural heritage has long been of great importance in the cause of national construction and development. President Ho Chi Minh once affirmed: “Heritage is a valuable asset, a foundation for a country” . He also paid special attention to preserving, inheriting and promoting the fine traditions of the nation.

On November 23, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh signed Decree No. 65/SL “Determining the tasks of the Oriental Academy of Sciences”. This is the first Decree of our State on the Preservation of National Cultural Heritage.

Up to now, after 78 years of its birth, the Decree still retains the basic and profound ideas of our State on the preservation of cultural heritage, its theoretical and practical significance in the cause of protecting and promoting the value of the country's cultural heritage.

On February 24, 2005, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 36/2005/QD-TTg on annually taking November 23 as "Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day".

To celebrate Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day this year, the Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam Folk Song Club in Hanoi organized a program to celebrate the 18th anniversary of Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day (November 23, 2005 - November 23, 2023) and the 9th anniversary of UNESCO recognizing Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam Folk Songs as intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

This is an opportunity for the people of Nghe An in particular and those who love Vi Giam folk songs in general to honor the values of Intangible Cultural Heritage, thereby contributing to encouraging and fostering love, awareness and responsibility for the homeland and country.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Hoang Xuan Luong - Former Deputy Minister, Vice Chairman of the Ethnic Committee, Vice Chairman of the Nghe An Association in Hanoi affirmed that Nghe An is known as a land rich in cultural and revolutionary traditions.

Over the course of time, the people here have created and preserved a rich and diverse folk culture with many unique genres, including Vi and Giam folk songs.

This is a unique folk art form, an indispensable spiritual food that makes up the soul of the people here.

Mr. Hoang Xuan Luong spoke at the ceremony.

He also expressed his love for this unique cultural form to everyone. “Loving Vi and Giam folk songs is the source of love for the homeland. Preserving and promoting Vi and Giam folk songs is also preserving and promoting the character of the people of Nghe An, of the Vietnamese people.

The beloved children of Nghe An always together cherish, preserve and promote the value of Vi Giam folk songs - the representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, so that the pure and warm sources of the origin will nourish and lift each soul, creating more faith and motivation for each person to contribute to building the homeland and country to become more and more beautiful and civilized," he said.

The former Deputy Minister, Vice Chairman of the Ethnic Committee, Vice Chairman of the Nghe An Association in Hanoi highly appreciated the establishment and rapid affirmation of the important position of the Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam Folk Songs Club in Hanoi over 9 years of operation and expressed his hope that the Club will develop further and have a wide influence; hoping that preserving and promoting the value of intangible cultural heritage from the folk songs and Vi tunes is not only the responsibility of those working in heritage work but also the common responsibility of each and every Nghe An native and of the whole society.

At the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Sinh Tuan, former General Director and General Secretary of the Vietnam Textile Association, representing the Nguyen Sinh family, emotionally recalled President Ho Chi Minh's love for folk songs. In the moment of preparing to return to the world of the wise, beloved Uncle Ho wanted to listen to a folk song filled with love for his homeland.

It seems that the folk songs, the melodies, the sweet folk songs of Nghe An have nurtured the soul and followed the life of this outstanding son of his homeland. His love for Vi Giam folk songs has resonated and spread in the souls of every son of Nghe An. Perhaps that is why Vi Giam folk songs have now truly spread widely in the heart of the thousand-year-old capital of Hanoi.

Mr. Nguyen Sinh Tuan - Former General Director and Secretary General of Vietnam Textile Association, representative of Nguyen Sinh family presented congratulatory flowers.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh - Head of the Vi and Giam Folk Song Club in Hanoi happily shared: “After nearly 9 years of operation, the club has attracted more and more members. Sharing the same love for folk songs, the members have enthusiastically created, performed and brought the uniqueness of this folk art form to shine in the spiritual life of Hanoians, as well as people across the country.

Despite many difficulties, the club still tries its best to maintain its activities to bring the cultural spirit of Nghe An to many people, especially with performances that have attracted thousands of attendees.

These initial important achievements, in addition to the efforts of the Board of Directors and members of the Club, are also due to the timely help and encouragement of leaders, former leaders of the Party, State, Ministries, Central departments and branches, Liaison Committee of Nghe An and Ha Tinh Province Associations in Hanoi, musicians, artists, singers, philanthropists...

The Board of Directors hopes to continue to receive more attention, encouragement and motivation from organizations and individuals so that the Club can continuously spread and develop in the future.

Representatives of the Board of Directors of Nghe An Association, Vinh City Association, Nam Dan Association in Hanoi presented flowers to the Club's chairman and artists.

The program to celebrate the 18th anniversary of Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day and the 9th anniversary of UNESCO recognizing Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs as intangible cultural heritage of humanity is organized with the desire for everyone to cherish, preserve and promote the value of Vi and Giam folk songs.

This is truly a pure, warm source of life's breath to nurture and lift up every soul, creating more faith and motivation for each person to be proud of their roots, actively contributing to building their homeland and country to become increasingly rich, beautiful and civilized.

Ngoc Thanh

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