'Keeping the flame alive' of Hai Phong's folk art through club activities.

In Hai Phong, folk art clubs quietly "keep the flame alive" so that traditional folk songs such as xẩm, ca trù, chèo, hát đúm, and ceremonial music remain present in community life.

Ms. Bui Thi Anh, Deputy Director of the City's Culture, Cinema and Exhibition Center

In the midst of the powerful currents of digital transformation and contemporary cultural life, preserving and transmitting intangible cultural heritage forms is facing numerous challenges.

In Hai Phong , folk art clubs quietly "keep the flame alive," becoming an important support system for traditional folk music genres such as xẩm, ca trù, chèo, hát đúm, and ceremonial music to continue to be present in community life.

The year 2026 is designated as a year for accelerating innovation in methods of preserving and promoting traditional cultural values.

Reporters from Hai Phong Newspaper and Radio & Television had an interview with Ms. Bui Thi Anh, Deputy Director of the City's Culture, Film and Exhibition Center, about the difficulties, solutions, and new directions to improve the effectiveness of folk art clubs.

A performance participating in the 2025 Folk Art Festival of Clubs under the City's Cultural, Film and Exhibition Center.

- Hai Phong currently has many clubs preserving various forms of intangible cultural heritage. However, in reality, the activities of these clubs also face many difficulties. Could you elaborate on the biggest obstacles they currently face?

- The biggest challenge today is passing on the tradition to the younger generation. They are born and raised in a modern environment, heavily influenced by many new forms of entertainment, so their access to, appreciation for, and long-term commitment to traditional folk art is limited. Finding successors for the artisans is therefore not easy.

Furthermore, funding remains a significant challenge. Most clubs currently operate on a voluntary, socialized basis. While centers and local authorities provide support in terms of facilities, invite artisans to teach at designated locations, or open classes, clubs still have to cover their own costs for costumes, props, and travel during regular activities, especially performances. This directly impacts the quality and sustainability of their activities.

The 2025 Folk Art Festival of Clubs under the City's Cultural, Film and Exhibition Center will feature 17 outstanding art clubs.

- In light of these difficulties, what solutions has the center implemented to support and assist the clubs, Madam?

- Fortunately, Hai Phong currently has a team of highly dedicated artisans and core personnel. Many artisans are committed to their craft with love and responsibility, readily teaching, performing for the community, participating in traditional festivals, and street art programs organized by the city.

The city is developing mechanisms and policies to provide financial support to traditional folk art clubs. This is a crucial source of encouragement for the clubs to maintain their activities, improve their professional skills, and expand their operations. Simultaneously, the center continues to create opportunities for clubs to participate in performances at traditional festivals, major cultural events, public cultural spaces, and street stages. Through these performances, heritage values ​​are disseminated more widely, helping residents and tourists understand, appreciate, and cherish traditional art.

To ensure the sustainable preservation and development of intangible cultural heritage, it is necessary to improve the quality of activities of clubs and community groups dedicated to traditional arts.

- In the long term, what are the center's directions and recommendations to help folk art clubs operate more effectively, especially in bringing heritage closer to the community?

- To ensure the sustainable preservation and development of intangible cultural heritage, we are focusing on several key solutions. First and foremost is promoting the transmission of traditional arts to the younger generation, helping them understand, appreciate, and be proud of them. Integrating heritage into schools and expanding the target audience of young learners is a strategic direction.

Along with that, it is necessary to improve the quality of activities of clubs and community groups on traditional arts such as ca trù, hát xẩm, chèo, hát văn, ceremonial music, coin dance, folk songs, etc., while creating more playgrounds and performance spaces for artisans and members to introduce the value of heritage to the public.

A crucial solution in the current period is to promote the digitization of heritage. Building digital documentation and bringing traditional art forms onto digital platforms and social media will help preserve heritage for the long term and make it more effectively accessible to young people – who are familiar with technology and the online space.

Furthermore, the city also pays special attention to honoring outstanding artists, artisans, and people's artisans annually. This is timely recognition and provides further motivation for artisans to continue keeping the flame alive, passing on and spreading valuable cultural values ​​to the community.

Thank you very much, Madam!

Currently, the Hai Phong City Center for Culture, Cinema and Exhibitions manages 46 clubs with approximately 1,500 members, operating in various fields of culture, art, and community activities.

In 2025, the clubs participated in performances, effectively serving many major city events and traditional festivals; among them, the Ca Tru, Cheo, Hat Van, and Hat Xam clubs left a significant mark.

Entering 2026, the center will continue to improve the quality of its professional activities, promote the preservation and transmission of heritage - especially to the younger generation, expand performance spaces, strengthen coordination among units, and contribute to enriching the cultural and spiritual life of the people.

HAI HAU - DO HIEN

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/giu-lua-nghe-thuat-dan-gian-hai-phong-tu-hoat-dong-cac-cau-lac-bo-534202.html