Launching a community run to raise funds to preserve craft villages

An Binh Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ABBANK) in collaboration with the Vietnam Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Fund (SVF) and the Department of Science and Technology of Hue City has just officially launched the "Vietnam Heritage Stride 2025" Community Run.

The offline community running series “Heritage Steps” was launched by ABBANK at typical heritage sites of the country in the 3 regions of North, Central and South.

This is a unique initiative to raise funds to support traditional craft villages, contributing to preserving cultural identity and promoting Vietnam's creative cultural industry.

Unlike other regular races, “Heritage Steps” has a profound social meaning when combining sports activities with fundraising goals in the community. According to the contribution mechanism, each valid kilometer of running or walking of the participant will be converted by ABBANK into 10,000 VND, contributing to the Vietnam Heritage Craft Village Development Fund, with a maximum total commitment of 1 billion VND.

Funds collected from contributions through the race will prioritize supporting typical traditional craft villages in Hue City and neighboring areas such as Phuoc Tich Pottery (Phong Dien), Sinh Village Painting (Phu Mau), Thanh Tien Paper Flowers (Phu Vang), Bao La Bamboo and Rattan Weaving (Quang Dien), Zeng Weaving (A Luoi-Nam Dong), My Lam Conical Hats (Phu Vang), Loc Thuy Cajeput Oil (Phu Loc), etc. These are craft villages that not only preserve cultural and historical values, but also have the potential to commercialize, create jobs and income for local people.

Beneficiary craft villages need to meet a number of specific criteria such as: artisans/craft households wishing to develop and innovate; products with distinctive cultural identity; ability to expand the market; positive impact on community life; and environmental friendliness.

In particular, the live race in Hue Ancient Capital took place on the morning of September 14 and was honored to have the participation of more than 100 runners who are leaders of the People's Committee and departments, branches and sectors of Hue city, leaders and staff of ABBANK and SVF.

Mr. Pham Duy Hieu, General Director of ABBANK affirmed that the Run is not only a fundraising activity, but also opens up opportunities for the community to join hands with artisans and craft villages in preserving and developing cultural heritage.

Mr. Pham Duy Hieu, General Director of ABBANK said: The “Heritage Footsteps” Run is not only a fundraising activity, but also opens up opportunities for the community to join hands with artisans and craft villages in preserving and developing cultural heritage. “ABBANK wishes to contribute to helping traditional craft villages adapt to modern trends, improve production capacity and access the market, thereby affirming the value of Vietnamese heritage on the global creative map,” Mr. Pham Duy Hieu emphasized.

Ms. Tran Thi Thuy Yen, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of Hue City affirmed: “This is a joint effort for Hue City to introduce, promote and develop products of craft villages, startups, and science and technology products. The project not only helps Hue heritage values ​​reach the domestic market but also introduces and promotes them to the world market. On behalf of the Department's leadership, I pledge to continue to accompany An Binh Bank and SVF to effectively implement the project's tasks in Hue City and achieve the set goals.”

Also according to Ms. Nguyen Nha Quyen, SVF Operations Director, the "Heritage Steps" race is an activity within the framework of the project "Innovation on Heritage, promoting Creative Cultural Industry, developing a sustainable future" with a long-term vision of building Vietnam into a strong creative nation based on cultural heritage, where people are proud of their national identity, thereby contributing to "elevating" heritage through Vietnamese intelligence, innovation and application of technology, digital transformation.

Every kilometer of running and walking by participants contributes to supporting the preservation and development of traditional craft villages in Hue City.

Through this project, ABBANK, SVF and the Department of Science and Technology of Hue City hope that “Heritage Footsteps” will become a strong spreading movement, arousing national pride, while creating a driving force for the development of the creative cultural industry, linking traditional values ​​with sustainable innovation.

The race takes place from August 8 to November 9, 2025 online on the Vrace platform, allowing anyone, anywhere, to participate by running, walking, cycling... After only 10 days of launching, the program has reached the milestone of 1 billion VND in fundraising commitment, showing the attraction and strong response from the community.

Along with online activities, a series of offline running events in the three regions of the North, Central and South were also launched by the Organizing Committee, associated with typical heritage sites of the country. Specifically: September 7 at the Cu Chi Tunnels Historical Site (Ho Chi Minh City), September 14 at the Hue Monuments Complex (Hue), and September 21 at Duong Lam Ancient Village (Hanoi). These events not only create a direct sports playground for internal staff in particular and the community in general, but also evoke pride, connection and spread the spirit of heritage conservation right in special cultural-historical spaces.

HONG ANH

Source: https://nhandan.vn/phat-dong-giai-chay-cong-dong-gay-quy-bao-ton-lang-nghe-post910131.html