Promoting the value of cultural heritage.

Việt Nam•07/12/2023

Artisan Vàng Văn Thức performs the "Tế ta" ritual, offering sacrifices to the river and water deities at the reservoir of the Mường Lay hydroelectric power plant at the beginning of each year. *Photo: Trần Nhâm*

Currently, the province has 27 recognized and ranked historical sites, including one special national-level site: the Dien Bien Phu Battlefield. There are 14 national-level sites: Huoi Cang and Huoi Dap caves in Muong Cha district; Pe Rang Ky, Kho Chua La, and Xa Nha caves, and the Thanh Vang Long citadel in Tua Chua district; Ha Cho, Mun Chung, and Tham Khuong caves in Tuan Giao district... There are 12 provincial-level sites: Muong Chung cave, Pu Nhung revolutionary base, Nam Rom large-scale irrigation project, Thanh An militia shooting down an American plane...

In addition, Dien Bien has 18 national intangible cultural heritage sites: Thai Xoe dance art; Hoang Cong Chat Temple Festival (Thanh Ban Phu) in Noong Het commune, Dien Bien district; Kin Pang Then ceremony of the Thai people in Na Nat village, Na Lay ward, Muong Lay town; Water splashing festival (Bun huot nam) of the Lao people in Nua Ngam commune, Dien Bien district; Men Loong Phat Ai festival (Cock's comb flower festival) of the Cong ethnic community and Ga Ma Thu ceremony (village worship) of the Ha Nhi ethnic community.

In the final days of the year, the ethnic groups in the highlands of Dien Bien are organizing their traditional festivals and New Year celebrations, attracting a large number of visitors from all over, including tourists from within and outside the province, to visit, interact, and learn about their cultural identity.

Artisans teach young people how to play the khene (a type of bamboo flute) during the spring festival at Phin Ho, Nam Po district. *Photo: Tran Nham*

The Rooster Comb Flower Festival of the Cong ethnic group in Pa Thom commune, Dien Bien district, was recently celebrated by the villagers in mid-November in a solemn, warm, and joyful atmosphere. The Rooster Comb Flower Festival is an occasion for the Cong people to rest, have fun, and relax after days of hard work. It is also a time for everyone to reflect on their roots, for descendants to express gratitude to their grandparents, parents, and ancestors, and to thank heaven and earth and the spirits for blessing them with favorable weather, bountiful harvests, and good health; and to pray for a peaceful and prosperous new year.

During our recent trip to Muong Nha district, we visited Sin Thau commune – home to border marker number 0 (the tri-border junction of Vietnam, Laos, and China). We were guided by officials from the district's Department of Culture and Information to visit several Ha Nhi ethnic families and learn about the commune's socio -economic development.

According to information provided by officials from the District's Department of Culture and Information, in just a few weeks (mid-December), the local people will celebrate the traditional Khù Sự Chà Hà Nhì New Year. In recent years, with improved economic conditions, the people have celebrated the New Year on a larger and more joyful scale, while still preserving their traditional cultural identity.

Locals guide tourists in experiencing the traditional bamboo pole dance in the highland cultural setting at the Hoa Ban Festival. *Photo: Tran Nham*

Tet, or Lunar New Year, typically lasts for three days. It's a time for family reunions, sharing drinks and exchanging meaningful greetings, and also a time for young men and women to celebrate the spring season and seek life partners.

Despite the achievements, the province's efforts in preserving and promoting cultural heritage for tourism development still face limitations. Many traditional cultural heritage values of ethnic groups are gradually fading away, and there are no effective solutions for their preservation and promotion.

The reasons include difficulties in promoting cultural heritage; inadequate awareness, scientific and technical skills, and knowledge of ethnic languages among cultural and tourism workers and local people. Food and cultural services are repetitive and lack variety. Investment in tourism infrastructure is inconsistent, and environmental sanitation remains inadequate...

Recognizing cultural heritage as an invaluable resource, it is crucial to prioritize its preservation and development. Effectively utilizing and promoting the value of cultural heritage is a prerequisite for developing tourism and increasing provincial revenue. Therefore, Party committees, government at all levels, professional staff, and the people need to enhance their responsibility in preserving cultural identity; focusing on promoting and publicizing the unique cultural beauty of the locality to friends both domestically and internationally. This is the best way to educate future generations about the tradition of loving their homeland and their unique cultural identity.

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