Meritorious Artist - Dr. Hoang Duan: "Preserving culture as a source for development"

Talking to Gia Lai Newspaper and Radio and Television, Meritorious Artist - Dr. Hoang Duan (Deputy Head of the Department of Cultural and Art Management, Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture) - General Director of the program "The Quintessence of the Great Forest - The Blue Sea Convergence" 2025, shared many emotions about the land and people of Gia Lai, as well as the responsibility of professionals towards the national cultural heritage.

Meritorious Artist - Dr. Hoang Duan (middle) and his crew prepare for the "Colors of the Sea" Street Festival program taking place on the afternoon of August 31. **Photo: Ngoc Nhuan**

Finding the source of culture

PV: This is the second time you have returned to Binh Dinh (now Gia Lai province) to carry out a large-scale art program. How do you feel when you reunite with the land and people here?

Meritorious Artist - Dr. Hoang Duan : Gia Lai is the first locality after the merger to boldly organize a large art program to introduce a new look.

Coming back this time, I have many emotions. The general atmosphere of the whole country is preparing for new developments, which also puts pressure on me: How to overcome the success of last year, while at the same time exploiting all the treasures of heritage, heroic traditions and rich contemporary life here.

Pressure but also motivation. The more I learn, the more I love Gia Lai culture, and the long-standing connection between the highlands and the lowlands. From the Con River, from Sa Huynh and Champa culture to the footsteps of ancient Binh Dinh people crossing An Khe Pass to the highlands to open up new lands, all have created a source of historical connection. Today, we continue to tell that story through the language of art.

Art performance opening the 2025 Festival of the Quintessence of the Great Forest - Convergence of the Blue Sea **. Photo: Dung Nhan**

PV: What impressed you about the land and people here?

Meritorious Artist, Dr. Hoang Duan : People of Binh Dinh (now Gia Lai province) are famous for their chivalry, daring to think and act, inheriting the heroic Tay Son tradition. During their work, from provincial leaders to young people and students, all exude that spirit.

What I especially appreciate is the force of artisans, artists, and martial artists in Gia Lai. They are willing to work hard and endure hardships to practice, to bring hát bội, bài chòi, ba trao, Bình Định traditional martial arts, gong performance art… to the big stage. They are the soul, the root that helps the program have a long-lasting vitality.

Meritorious Artist - Dr. Hoang Duan (left cover) and gong performers prepare for the Street Festival program. **Photo: Ngoc Nhuan**

PV: As the general director, what message do you want to convey through this festival?

Meritorious Artist, Dr. Hoang Duan : I always keep in mind: Economic development must be associated with preserving the environment and culture. Culture is the source, the identity. If we chase development and lose culture, we will lose our way. Therefore, all performances - from folk songs, singing to the sea, fishing songs to modern youth music - are based on tradition. I want to blend the forest and the sea, the great gong and the coastal folk song, to clearly see the unity in diversity.

Turn challenges into motivation

Behind the scenes of a large-scale festival, behind the stage lights, each elaborate performance is the passion of the professionals. All require close coordination and a high sense of responsibility.

The colorful opening night of the Festival "The Quintessence of the Great Forest - The Convergence of the Blue Sea" **Photo: Dung Nhan**

PV: With a large-scale, multicultural festival like this, there must be many challenges for you and your crew?

Meritorious Artist, Dr. Hoang Duan : That's right! The first challenge is how to create something new compared to last year. Second, we must select the best, we cannot bring all the heritage to the stage, otherwise it will be diluted. The most important thing is to maintain the originality: The gong artists must be Jrai and Bahnar people in the Gia Lai plateau; the artists of Hat Boi, Ba Trao, and Bai Choi must be local people.

Time was tight, the team was large, and we had to practice in many places - from the Gia Lai highlands, the coastal city of Quy Nhon to Ho Chi Minh City, so the pressure was huge. But I believe that "pressure creates motivation". It was the unity of the team of artisans and artists that turned difficulties into motivation to create a great event, with valuable experiences.

The program's general director, Meritorious Artist - Dr. Hoang Duan, talks with Binh Dinh opera artists before performing at the Street Festival. **Photo: Ngoc Nhuan**

PV: Can you share some of your favorite details in the program?

Meritorious Artist - Dr. Hoang Duan : The overall opening program of the 2025 Quintessence of the Great Forest - Blue Sea Festival that I staged shows the message that the country is entering a new era - the era of the Vietnamese people's rise, Gia Lai province is also developing but culture is still the source that must maintain its identity. All the performances aim at that message, so I am very satisfied.

However, I remember the opening part the most: Just by creating the image of the Cham tower cluster, the statue of the goddess Apsara and the folk performing art, the audience immediately recognized the breath of Sa Huynh - Champa culture, along with the footprints of the Kinh people opening up the Central Highlands.

The echoes of the folk song of the Con River "Whoever comes back, please tell the source/Send down young jackfruit, send up flying fish" make everyone who hears it emotional. Or like the performance "Vietnam in me" by Van Mai Huong, the whole audience sang along in unison, showing the strong influence of music associated with pride in the homeland.

The street festival with the theme "Colors of the sea" represents the traditional and modern cultural identity of the mountains and sea. **Photo: Ngoc Nhuan**

More opportunities to promote Gia Lai land and people

PV: In your opinion, what is the significance of this festival in promoting the image and building the tourism brand of Gia Lai?

Meritorious Artist - Dr. Hoang Duan : This can be considered the first major cultural and artistic event of the new Gia Lai province. Local leaders also clearly defined the goal: Not only to organize a simple art program, but also to stimulate tourism through it.

For example, even though the audience is not there in person, when watching on television or online platforms, they will realize that in Gia Lai, in the morning they can go up the mountain, in the afternoon they can go swimming in the sea, and in the evening they can enjoy bamboo rice, grilled chicken or a glass of Bau Da wine, or tuna. They will also learn about famous places such as Ky Co, Eo Gio, Ham Ho, or go to Quang Trung Museum, the communal house on the Gia Lai plateau to watch gong performances.

In other words, the program is an official, visual and attractive communication channel to introduce Gia Lai's rich tourism resources to the general public, thereby creating a strong ripple effect.

The series of festival events are held to add opportunities to promote Gia Lai tourism. **Photo: Ngoc Nhuan**

PV: You seem to be very passionate about “breathing cultural life” into art programs. What motivates you?

Meritorious Artist, Dr. Hoang Duan : I come from Tinh Khe, Quang Ngai - the old land of Nghia Binh. People in the Central region endure many hardships, but it is these hardships that forge their character. When I travel through many regions, I realize more and more that each place has its own distinct culture, not superior or inferior, just different.

Doing art today, I no longer think much about profit. I want to contribute, to spread cultural values to the public. Each program not only serves a few hundred local audiences, but also millions of people via television and the internet. That is the responsibility and also the happiness of a professional.

PV: If you had to leave a few words for the Gia Lai audience - the people who directly received the program, what would you like to say?

Meritorious Artist - Dr. Hoang Duan : First of all, gratitude! Gia Lai audiences cheered very civilly, very proud of their homeland's culture. I hope people continue to support artists and artisans, spreading good values on social networks and in life.

For young people, I hope there will be more people researching, creating, and continuing the path of preserving heritage. For businesses, I hope they join hands to sponsor and accompany cultural programs, because this is an investment for a sustainable future.

PV: Thank you for this interesting conversation. I wish you continued success in your career and many special programs, bringing the public fascinating stories about history and culture through the stage!

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/nsut-ts-hoang-duan-giu-van-hoa-lam-coi-nguon-de-phat-trien-post565348.html