Reviving the cultural heritage values ​​of the ancestral land.

With a strategic cultural vision, from the very beginning of the nation's independence, President Ho Chi Minh signed Decree No. 65/SL on November 23, 1945, on the protection of tangible heritage. He declared: "Preserve ancient relics throughout Vietnam." Deeply imbued with Uncle Ho's teachings, over the years, Phu Tho province – the ancestral land of Vietnam – has continuously strived to preserve and promote the value of its cultural heritage.

Phu Tho Xoan singing is performed to spread the value of this heritage to the people and tourists both domestically and internationally.

Following President Ho Chi Minh's ideas on culture, the Party and State of Vietnam have built an advanced Vietnamese culture, rich in national identity, on the foundation of preserving and sustainably promoting the value of national heritage. A legal system for heritage protection has been established on a scientific basis and integrated with the international community. In particular, November 23rd has been designated as "Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day" annually to promote the tradition and sense of responsibility of the entire society in protecting national heritage.

On September 19, 1954, at the Well Temple within the Hung Temple historical site, speaking to officers and soldiers of the Vanguard Army Division (now the 308th Division) as they marched to take over Hanoi , President Ho Chi Minh said: "The Hung Kings had the merit of founding the nation; we, their descendants, must together preserve it." To this day, that historic admonition continues to inspire aspirations for building and developing a prosperous and happy country; it recalls and honors the sacred traditional cultural values ​​that have forged the soul of the Vietnamese nation.

For Phu Tho, a land of "sacred land and outstanding people," the birthplace of the Van Lang state, this responsibility becomes even more sacred. After the merger, the province became a "living museum" of national history and culture. According to statistics, Phu Tho province currently has 2,778 relics, of which 980 are classified, including 6 special national relics. Regarding intangible heritage, the province has nearly 2,000 heritage items, notably 5 of which are inscribed by UNESCO.

A large number of locals and tourists attended the Hung Kings Commemoration Day - Hung Temple Festival in the year of the Horse 2026.

Within the vast heritage system, the Hung Kings worship tradition holds a central position, serving as a sacred symbol connecting the community. Recognized by UNESCO as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2012, this heritage has received focused investment from the province for restoration at the Hung Kings Temple Historical Site. Every year, the Hung Kings Commemoration Day - Hung Kings Temple Festival is organized on a national scale, harmoniously blending traditional and modern elements.

This event has become a unique spiritual gathering point, evoking national pride and attracting millions of domestic and international tourists on pilgrimage. The Hung Temple Festival is considered one of the exemplary festivals nationwide, contributing to the glorious history of the nation. Amidst the crowds visiting the Hung Temple historical site during the recent Hung Temple Ancestor Commemoration Day in the year of the Horse 2026, Ms. Bui Thi Mo from Kim Boi commune shared: "Every year, my family and I come to Hung Temple to offer incense, but this year the festival atmosphere is much more vibrant after the merger of Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, and Hoa Binh provinces. The landscape from the foot of the mountain to the Upper Temple is well-maintained, clean, and neatly planned, making it convenient for us to travel and feel very solemn and respectful of our traditions and cultural roots."

Besides the Hung Kings worship tradition, Phu Tho's Xoan singing is also a remarkable achievement in conservation efforts. From being on the list of urgently protected heritage in 2011, Xoan singing was moved to the list of representative heritage of humanity in 2017. The province has implemented many policies to support original Xoan singing troupes, restore performance spaces, and organize teaching and transmission within the community. Furthermore, Phu Tho is also a region where other heritages such as Ca Tru singing, tug-of-war rituals and games, and the practice of worshipping the Mother Goddess of the Three Realms are disseminated.

Sharing information about the advisory and management work on cultural heritage in the province, Ms. Pham Viet Nga, Deputy Head of the Cultural Heritage Management Department (Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism), said that the province pays attention to implementing specific mechanisms and policies in the field of cultural heritage. Mechanisms supporting investment in the restoration of historical sites have been issued, and regulations on support levels for those responsible for maintaining these sites have been established. In particular, the "Socialization of Xoan Singing Preservation" model is considered a national example in mobilizing resources from businesses and the people. The inventory and digitization of heritage documents have also been promoted to serve education and tourism development.

However, in reality, there are still difficulties in preserving and promoting the value of cultural heritage and relics. In the coming time, the province will continue to review and build dossiers to submit to competent authorities for recognition of more national intangible cultural heritage and coordinate the submission of the Mo Muong dossier to UNESCO for inscription. At the same time, it will orient the development of cultural and spiritual tourism routes such as the "Back to the Roots" route: Hung Temple - Lang Suong Temple - Au Co Mother Temple. Connecting heritage with contemporary life through traditional festivals such as the Tay Thien Festival, the Tro Tram Festival, and craft villages such as Huong Canh pottery and Sai Nga conical hats will help shape the identity of the northern midland and mountainous region. The core goal is to transform heritage into assets, serving scientific research, traditional education, and improving the lives of the local people.

Deeply imbued with President Ho Chi Minh's teachings, the Party Committee, government, and people of Phu Tho province have been sustainably preserving heritage values, ensuring that the cultural essence of the ancestral land remains a source of pride and a driving force for future development.

Huong Lan

Source: https://baophutho.vn/khoi-day-cac-gia-tri-di-san-van-hoa-vung-dat-to-253850.htm