Merging villages and residential areas: the challenge of preserving cultural identity.

Merging villages and residential areas opens up new development opportunities but also creates the need to preserve the cultural identity of the community.

The customs, traditions, and way of life in the countryside are preserved and passed down through many generations.

This is a crucial factor in preserving traditional values, fostering community, and preventing the loss of the unique characteristics of each village.

Core values ​​and the fear of their fading away.

Village culture in Vietnam in general and Hai Phong in particular is not merely a place of residence but also a sustainable social institution, preserving customs, traditions, lifestyles, and historical and cultural values ​​passed down through generations. It is also a space associated with communal houses, temples, shrines, festivals, and community movements that reflect the unique local identity.

In the upcoming mergers, many small villages and residential areas will be consolidated into larger residential units, leading to geographical expansion and a significant increase in population. This has caused considerable concern among residents, especially the elderly, about the risk of losing traditional values ​​that have long been associated with each village and hamlet.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Toan from An Phu commune is concerned that the merger will change the names associated with the history of the land. Long-standing village customs and regulations risk fading away in a larger and more diverse community. Some distinctive cultural features of each hamlet and traditional craft village may also lose their inherent cohesion when integrated into the new administrative space.

In some suburban areas of Hai Phong such as Thuy Nguyen and An Duong, mergers require careful consideration to avoid disrupting grassroots cultural and sports movements that have been built up over many years.

According to Mr. Hoang Van Luc, Secretary of the Party Branch of Xa Son village, Nam An Phu commune: "Another practical aspect of the cultural preservation challenge is infrastructure. Because community cultural activities are closely linked to institutions such as cultural centers, village communal houses, and sports fields."

Previous reorganizations in Hai Phong have revealed a situation of "too many, too few" cultural centers. After mergers, the reduction in the number of administrative units meant that many old cultural centers were no longer fully utilized, while organizing activities for a larger community in one location became overloaded. The cramped space and lack of equipment not only affected the quality of meetings and public cultural exchanges but also made it difficult for residents to connect with their new communities.

Understanding and a systematic approach

Cultural institutions such as cultural centers, sports fields, and arenas are very important because they are closely linked to community cultural activities.

To address the challenge of preserving cultural identity during this merger, the city has early on emphasized the principle that the arrangement of villages and residential areas must take into account the unique historical, cultural, customary, and traditional characteristics of each locality.

Accordingly, the process of naming villages and residential areas after mergers needs to be carried out cautiously, with broad consultation from the people. The city prioritizes retaining names associated with long-standing history and cultural traditions or those deeply ingrained in the community's spiritual life, avoiding the mechanical naming method based on numerical order that causes the place names to lose their unique identity.

Furthermore, despite changes in administrative boundaries, community cultural values ​​such as village regulations, customs, traditional festivals, village gatherings, and cultural and sports clubs need to be maintained and promoted. Party committees and mass organizations should continue to play a connecting role, leveraging the prestige of elders, former village heads, and neighborhood group leaders in preserving customs and passing on positive cultural values ​​to the younger generation.

Another important issue is the synchronized planning of the cultural institution system. This is considered the foundation for ensuring that community cultural life does not shrink after the administrative reorganization. Hai Phong needs to prioritize land and resources to expand, upgrade, or build new cultural centers of appropriate scale, meeting the needs of the larger community for meetings, activities, sports training, and social interaction after the merger.

Merging villages and residential areas is a major policy aimed at streamlining and modernizing the administrative apparatus and creating momentum for Hai Phong's development in the new phase. However, along with this process, preserving cultural identity needs to be given special attention to ensure harmonious and sustainable development. A modern city needs not only synchronized infrastructure but also the preservation of cultural depth and the cohesion of the community.

The naming of villages and residential areas after mergers should take into account the opinions of the people, prioritizing the retention of place names associated with long-standing history and cultural traditions.

The merger process requires flexibility, adaptability, and above all, the consensus and voluntary participation of the people. The success of reorganizing villages and residential areas is not only judged by the number of administrative units streamlined or the amount of budget savings, but also by whether the spiritual life and traditional cultural values ​​of the people are preserved. The beauty of neighborly relations and long-standing community bonds should be considered a valuable asset that needs to be preserved and promoted.

With the coordinated efforts of the entire political system and the awareness of each citizen in preserving cultural heritage, the work of preserving cultural identity during the merger process will gradually achieve positive results. This will lead to the formation of new residential areas that are not only streamlined and efficient but also rich in community spirit and deeply rooted in the cultural identity of the coastal region of Hai Phong.

THU HUONG

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/sap-nhap-thon-to-dan-pho-and-bai-toan-giu-ban-sac-543846.html