Preserving the flow of cultural heritage.

In the material and spiritual lives of the ethnic minority communities in Thai Nguyen province, cultural and artistic activities are considered a vital source for the flow of culture within the community. The core of these activities is the members of cultural and artistic clubs. They confidently awaken and spread the unique cultural beauty of their ethnic groups through club activities.

A cultural and artistic performance by members of the Van Lang Commune's Outstanding Culture and Arts Club.

Spreading the unique beauty of our culture.

From the administrative center of Thai Nguyen province, after a journey of more than half a day by motorbike along various roads, we arrived at Van Lang commune. Suddenly, we heard the lively sounds of then singing and tinh playing near a stilt house, dispelling our fatigue from the long journey. Mr. Phan Van Minh, from Na Diec village, gently put down his tinh instrument, pausing the singing. He slowly said: "For a long time, there has been a then singing group in the locality consisting of 11 people. By the end of 2025, the local government will encourage its development into a club."

The Van Lang Commune's Outstanding Arts and Culture Club has 39 members, with Ms. Hoang Thi Dung, Deputy Secretary of the Commune Party Committee, serving as its Chairperson. The club meets on the 25th of every month.

Sharing with us, Ms. Hoang Thi Dung said: "In the province, this is the first cultural and artistic club established after the province's merger. Besides practicing and performing for the people, the club's artistic performances also convey new messages about life to the people, including the Party's guidelines and the State's policies and laws."

The cultural and artistic activities of the club members contribute to raising the level of cultural and spiritual enjoyment among ethnic minority communities. This is also how the club clearly affirms its role in preserving, conserving, transmitting, and promoting the value of cultural heritage and enriching the cultural and artistic treasures of ethnic minority communities.

Members of the Then Club in Khau Lai hamlet, Hop Thanh commune, actively participate in serving the local people.

The Then Club in Khau Lai hamlet, Hop Thanh commune, is a prime example. Established in October 2022, the club has 10 members, mostly elderly, and only 3 of them know how to play musical instruments and sing.

Mr. Phan Van Du, a member of the club, shared: "We encourage each other; if we don't know something, we join the club to learn and support the movement. After only 3 months of practice, most of the club members are quite proficient at playing the zither and know many then songs."

Ms. Vu Thi Van, Head of the Then Club in Khau Lai hamlet, shared: "Through club activities, we have the opportunity to practice playing musical instruments, singing, and performing for the community. This is also an act of participating in preserving and passing on the cultural heritage of our ethnic group to future generations."

The clubs truly serve as the "nucleus" for spreading the arts and culture movement in the locality, while also clearly demonstrating the strength of the community in jointly preserving heritage. To ensure the development of the arts and culture movement in line with the Party's direction, Thai Nguyen province has always given due attention, such as providing equipment and costumes for performances to some exemplary clubs.

Particularly in recent years, the province has effectively implemented many scientific projects and research topics on preserving and promoting cultural values ​​among ethnic minorities. Examples include the Tay wedding ceremony in Lam Vi commune; the harvest prayer ceremony of the San Diu ethnic group in Vo Tranh commune; and the coming-of-age ceremony of the Nung Phan Sinh ethnic group in Nam Hoa commune. Notably, in 2025, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism organized the training of four traditional performing arts groups at Cho Moi Ethnic Boarding Junior High School and Ngan Son, Ba Be, and Cho Don Ethnic Boarding Junior High Schools; and established two model cultural and artistic clubs in Nghinh Tuong commune, linked to tourism and heritage restoration.

Transmitting and promoting the value of heritage.

The arts and culture movement has developed widely, becoming a real need among the people. Almost all villages, hamlets, and residential areas in the province have arts and culture groups, clubs, and organizations. Club members participate voluntarily according to their interests, while also demonstrating a sense of responsibility in preserving, transmitting, and promoting the cultural heritage of their nation.

Sharing with us, Ms. Nham Thi Nguyen, Head of the Bell Dance and Turtle Dance Club in Cong Hoa hamlet, Phu Luong commune, said: "It is an epic dance, closely associated with the spiritual life of the Dao ethnic group, reflecting their harsh struggle for survival and their yearning for peace… To preserve and promote this unique art form, since the end of 2023, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has sent professional staff to the locality to encourage artisans and people to participate in the club's activities. Immediately after its establishment, the club attracted 60 members who regularly practice, becoming a highlight in the grassroots cultural movement."

Members of the Soọng Cô singing club in Đá Bạc hamlet, Tân Khánh commune, maintain good practice sessions and cultural exchange activities.

As a gathering place for artisans and local people, the club also plays an important role in preserving and transmitting the ethnic language. When asked about the activities of the Soọng Cô singing club in Đá Bạc hamlet, Tân Khánh commune, Mr. Lục Thanh Lâm, the club's chairman, enthusiastically said: Thanks to the support from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in providing some equipment for cultural activities, especially in organizing and maintaining activities, teaching the younger generation the lyrics of the songs, and developing new members, many children in the hamlet have learned to speak their ethnic language through the songs. Currently, the 60 members of the club are the core group in preserving the language and songs of the Sán Dìu ethnic group in Đá Bạc hamlet.

In the context of global integration and expanding cultural exchange, grassroots cultural and artistic clubs are becoming increasingly important in preserving, conserving, transmitting, and promoting the value of intangible cultural heritage. This includes the songs, music, and languages ​​of ethnic minority communities. These cultural and artistic clubs are like pure springs, creating a sustainable cultural flow in the lives of ethnic minority communities and confidently integrating into the vast ocean of world culture.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202604/giu-mach-nguon-dong-chay-van-hoa-c642d23/