A bridge connecting solidarity

Quang Ninh is home to many ethnic groups such as the Kinh, Tay, Dao, San Diu, and San Chi... Each ethnic group has its own distinctive cultural characteristics, from clothing and language to traditional festivals. The combination of these cultural elements creates a colorful tapestry, preserving traditional values ​​while promoting integration and mutual understanding among communities. Through these cultural values, each ethnic group not only learns to love and cherish each other's identity but also strives towards a shared, sustainable, and prosperous future.

Soldiers and residents of neighborhood 7A, Hong Hai ward, Ha Long city, joyfully participate in the bamboo pole dance.

"Soft power" unites the entire nation.

Putting aside the worries of daily life and work, every evening around 8 PM, the women of the New Star Club in Nguyen Du neighborhood, Quang Ha town, Hai Ha district, gather at the neighborhood cultural center to immerse themselves in vibrant folk dances and sports dances. Having joined the folk dance club since its inception, Ms. Pham Thi Dinh has mastered every dance move and step in various musical genres. Ms. Dinh happily shared: “After a tiring day at work, cleaning the house, cooking dinner, and eating with family members, instead of staying home watching TV, we come to the neighborhood cultural center to practice folk dancing with other women. It's not just a healthy hobby; this cultural activity also helps us become more agile, healthier, and closer to each other.”

The activities of the folk dance club in Quang Ha town, Hai Ha district, attract a large number of women in the area to participate.

The increasingly vibrant models of community cultural and artistic clubs have contributed to preserving and promoting the cultural identity and customs of ethnic groups, while also acting as a "glue" to strengthen solidarity among neighbors and ethnic groups, fostering a spirit of sharing and mutual support in life.

In 2012, the Then Singing and Dan Tinh Playing Club of Hoanh Mo commune, Binh Lieu district, was established. Since then, the club's activities have been organized regularly, becoming a destination for Then enthusiasts and a large number of Tay people in the area. Folk artist Tran Siu Thu, the club's chairman, said: "Initially, the club only had a few members, but now the number has increased to 38. Not only do we maintain regular weekly activities and actively participate in performances at the commune and district levels, but when called upon, we also perform at the provincial level." The Hoanh Mo Then Singing and Dan Tinh Playing Club also regularly has exchange programs with the Dong Tong Arts Club in Fangcheng Port City (Guangxi, China). These programs also provide many opportunities for members to expand their knowledge and make friends.

Members of the Then singing club in Hoành Mô commune, Bình Liêu district, practice singing Then songs.

Beyond just club activities, festivals and cultural events of ethnic minorities are becoming a bridge connecting culture to wider audiences and bringing people closer together, contributing to improving the spiritual lives of the people.

In early December 2024, the Duc Ong Hoang Can Temple Festival and the San Diu Ethnic Group's Cultural and Sports Festival took place in Tien Yen district. The festival featured many unique activities reflecting the rich culture of the San Diu people, such as the Great Banner Ceremony, the New Rice Offering Ceremony, performances of traditional San Diu wedding ceremonies, a traditional San Diu culinary competition, cultural exchange programs, performances of Soong Co folk songs, and displays of traditional San Diu men's and women's costumes. The festival also included the display and sale of various traditional items and products characteristic of the San Diu ethnic group.

An excerpt from the Soọng Cô folk song, performed during the wedding procession of the Sán Dìu people, was staged at the Đức Ông Hoàng Cần Temple Festival and the Sán Dìu Ethnic Group's Cultural and Sports Day. Photo: Phạm Học

Held annually, the 2024 San Diu Ethnic Culture and Sports Festival at the Duc Ong Hoang Can Temple and Tien Yen District San Diu Ethnic Culture and Sports Day is not limited to Hai Lang commune or Tien Yen district, but also welcomes many visitors representing the San Diu ethnic community in the province and other provinces and cities such as Vinh Phuc, Bac Giang, Tuyen Quang, Hanoi… Participating delegations engage in cultural exchanges, arts, sports, Soong Co singing, and San Diu traditional costume performances. Ms. Lam Thi Thanh Hai (San Diu ethnic group), Ha Phong ward, Ha Long city, said: “Every year, we usually attend this event to participate in the cultural activities of the San Diu people. I especially enjoy the reenactment of the San Diu wedding procession, the chicken dance, the Hanh Quang dance, and the beautiful feast competition… This activity helps our people connect more closely, and more importantly, it lets many tourists know about the beauty of the San Diu people.”

Cultural activities such as traditional festivals, ethnic cultural days, or community art programs not only contribute to preserving unique cultural values ​​but also create opportunities for ethnic groups to interact and understand each other. Through these activities, cultural diversity is not a barrier but is celebrated and becomes a shared asset that unites people through harmony and mutual respect.

The unique traditional cultural values ​​of the ethnic minority communities in Quang Ninh province have become a valuable resource for tourism development. Photo: Nguyen Dung

Investing in culture

With 43 ethnic groups living together, Quang Ninh also possesses a vast amount of intangible cultural heritage including festivals, customs, traditions, folk games, and traditional crafts. Among these are many unique festivals such as: the village festival of the Dao ethnic group in Bang Ca commune (Ha Long City); the Soong Co festival and Luc Na communal house festival of the Tay ethnic group in Luc Hon commune (Binh Lieu district); the Tien Cong festival and Bach Dang festival (Quang Yen town); the Quynh Lam pagoda festival and An Sinh temple festival (Dong Trieu town); the Cua Ong temple festival (Cam Pha City); the Yen Tu festival (Uong Bi City)...

Residents of Cam Thinh ward (Cam Pha city) participate in a tug-of-war competition during the National Unity Day celebration.

Recognizing culture as a strength and endogenous resource for development, the province always focuses on preserving and promoting the value of its diverse and rich tangible and intangible cultural resources. The system of cultural and sports facilities at all levels has been invested in and built quite comprehensively, helping communes, wards, towns, villages, and neighborhoods to effectively serve the needs of people for meetings, activities, and cultural and artistic club exchanges. On average, cultural centers attract 40% of the population annually in mountainous areas and 50% in lowland areas.

The restoration, preservation, and promotion of tangible and intangible cultural heritage have been given priority. In the last five years alone, the province has spent nearly 4,800 billion VND on culture and sports. 100% of national-level relics and 70% of provincial-level relics have been restored and renovated with a total budget of over 1,600 billion VND. Besides preserving, maintaining, and promoting cultural values, this activity also provides ethnic minority communities in the province with additional venues for cultural and spiritual activities, interaction, and demonstrating solidarity.

The Thanh Y Dao ethnic group's cultural space exhibition house in Khe Su 2 village, Thuong Yen Cong commune (Uong Bi city) has become a place for cultural and spiritual activities for the Thanh Y Dao people.

In August 2024, the Thanh Y Dao Ethnic Group Cultural Space Exhibition House was inaugurated in Khe Su 2 village, Thuong Yen Cong commune (Uong Bi city). The project, with a total investment of 800 million VND, recreates five cultural spaces of the Thanh Y Dao people, with bilingual (Vietnamese-English) annotations. These include: a space displaying traditional men's and women's clothing; a space introducing the Coming-of-Age Ceremony; a model of a traditional house; a space showcasing the Thanh Y Dao kitchen; and some images and artifacts related to the life, activities, and culture of the Thanh Y Dao people. The facility, upon opening, has become a cultural hub for the Thanh Y Dao people in Thuong Yen Cong commune; it also serves as a place to preserve and conserve the traditional cultural values ​​of the community, contributing to the development of community tourism. Mr. Trieu Van Loan, from Khe Su village, Thuong Yen Cong commune (Uong Bi city), happily shared: "Not only the Dao Thanh Y people of Khe Su village and neighboring localities, but also people from other provinces come to visit and admire this place. It has also become a place for people to meet each other during holidays, Tet (Lunar New Year), or important events."

Cultural exchange between ethnic minority people in Ky Thuong commune, Ha Long city and tourists.

Valuing culture, in 2023, Quang Ninh province also issued Resolution No. 17-NQ/TU dated October 30, 2023, of the Provincial Party Committee "On building and promoting the cultural values ​​and human strength of Quang Ninh to become an endogenous resource and driving force for rapid and sustainable development." This resolution continues to set the goal of building the people of Quang Ninh with the following characteristics: "Courage, Self-reliance, Discipline, Unity, Compassion, Generosity, Creativity, and Civility." From these goals, the cultural values ​​and people of Quang Ninh are increasingly nurtured, becoming a soft power that strengthens national unity and promotes the strength of the entire population in participating in the implementation of the province's overall socio-economic development tasks.

In particular, the annual National Unity Day, organized in conjunction with the cultural identity of each region, village, and neighborhood, has created a vibrant atmosphere, honoring the nation's fine traditional values ​​and strengthening the bonds among all the people. This is also an opportunity for each citizen to further promote the tradition of unity and patriotism, working together to build a more prosperous, beautiful, and civilized Quang Ninh homeland.

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/nhip-cau-noi-tinh-doan-ket-3338357.html