Expanding the model of grassroots culture.

Over the past five years, the Thai Nguyen Provincial Cultural Center has developed nearly 50 models of grassroots cultural villages – "nurturing new cultural seeds" from within the community itself.

An excerpt from the Tay people's Prayer Ceremony, performed by Meritorious Artist Hoang Van Hai.

Nghinh Tuong commune is a particularly disadvantaged area with the majority of its population being Tay ethnic minorities. Implementing the plan to establish cultural and artistic clubs and build model cultural villages at the grassroots level, the Thai Nguyen Provincial Cultural Center sent guides to the villages to help the people develop cultural and artistic performances that reflect the local characteristics. These performances created a joyful and unifying cultural atmosphere within the local community, while also helping grassroots cultural figures to improve their performance styles.

At the end of August 2025, the closing ceremony and demonstration of the model's results took place in Ban Cai hamlet, beginning with the sounds of Then and the Tinh lute from the Tay people's peace-praying ceremony echoing on a meticulously constructed stage in the courtyard of the commune's People's Committee.

Although it wasn't the first time they'd witnessed this ceremony, the villagers still watched intently as the remarkable performance by the distinguished artist Hoang Van Hai unfolded before them. Their faces radiated joy and pride in the beautiful traditions and customs of their people.

After the performance, 75-year-old Meritorious Artisan Hoang Van Hai, who is knowledgeable about and practices the traditional rituals of the Tay ethnic group in the locality, shared: "I have been connected to Then and its rituals since I was a child. Now that I see the State preserving them, I feel like I'm reliving my youth. The restoration of the rituals is not just for performance, but a way to preserve the soul of the Tay people in this modern era, especially for young children."

In addition to restoring and choreographing Tay ethnic rituals, in each locality implementing the model of a culturally advanced village, officials from the Thai Nguyen Provincial Cultural Center also support the recreation of characteristic rituals of the local ethnic community, with the most distinctive excerpts, such as the coming-of-age ceremony of the Dao and San Chay people, the Oc Po festival of the Nung people, the New Year's dance of the Dao people, etc.

Each model is a story, a slice of culture retold in the language of the community itself. Over the course of a month, guides from the Thai Nguyen Provincial Cultural Center assisted in staging and choreographing cultural performances in each village where a model was built.

Each cultural center is an open space where folk art is revived, combined with performances praising the Party, President Ho Chi Minh, the homeland, and the people of Thai Nguyen. The core members are also guided on how to stage programs, practice vocals, perform, and even learn the rituals of tea making and tea appreciation – a unique cultural feature of the Thai Nguyen region.

Ms. Hoang Thuy Kieu, an officer at the Thai Nguyen Provincial Cultural Center, currently instructing on the art of Then singing and Dan Tinh playing in Sang Moc commune, shared: "When I come to the grassroots, the most valuable thing is being able to live with the people, practice together, and sing together. During the day, the people work in the fields and forests, but at night they enthusiastically come to the village cultural center and stay until late to practice Then songs and how to play the Dan Tinh. We don't bring 'culture from above,' but help them tell their own cultural stories."

After five years, nearly 50 model villages and hamlets have been established and spread throughout the localities, contributing to promoting the "All people unite to build a cultured life" and "Join hands to build new rural areas" movements. From these, many talented individuals in arts and culture have been discovered and nurtured. Cultural and artistic clubs have been formed among the people, becoming bright spots of culture at the grassroots level. In many places, these models are also linked to community tourism destinations, helping to preserve culture while simultaneously developing the economy .

According to Ms. Hoang Thi Hien, Deputy Director of the Thai Nguyen Provincial Cultural Center: The goal of the model is not only to organize performances, but also to create "cultural nuclei" at the grassroots level. When people become aware of their role in preserving culture, the movement will spread and develop further...

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202510/nhan-rong-mo-hinh-van-hoa-co-so-7f209eb/