"Rekindling" the love for heritage.

Artists and students of the Nung ethnic folk culture club in Tan Thanh commune, Cao Loc district, performed at the club's launch ceremony.

Over the years, Meritorious Artisan Vi Thi Lien from Van Quan district has advised on and organized many cultural activities such as: district-level folk song festivals, seminars on indigenous cultural knowledge, and the development of programs to serve political and cultural events of the province and district.

For her positive contributions, she received a Certificate of Commendation from the Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (CST) at the 2024 Meeting of Outstanding Artists and Artisans. Ms. Lien shared: “I have always considered establishing folk culture clubs and directly teaching heritage to the younger generation as a top priority. Because modern society with new cultural trends can easily cause traditional values to fade.” From 2015 to the present, she has taught folk singing and other folk melodies to more than 500 students.

Sharing a common passion, Meritorious Artist Hoang Thi Thuy from Van Lang district dedicates her heart and soul to preserving and spreading Then singing, Tinh lute playing, and Chau dance. Undeterred by difficulties, she regularly visits schools and villages to teach over 30 classes, attracting more than 400 students. She has also composed nearly 20 new Then songs praising her homeland.

They are just two of many artisans contributing to the preservation and promotion of intangible cultural heritage. Currently, the province has over 1,500 folk artisans who possess various forms of heritage such as: spoken language, written script, social customs, folk performing arts, traditional festivals, handicrafts, folk knowledge, etc. From 2017 to the present, these artisans have directly participated in teaching over 500 intangible heritage classes, "passing on the torch" to thousands of students.

Thanks to the contributions of artisans, the movement for traditional cultural activities in localities is increasingly developing. From 2022 to the present, the province has established nearly 100 new clubs, bringing the total number to nearly 300 traditional cultural clubs. Notably, from 2015 to the present, the province has had 9 national intangible cultural heritage sites and 2 intangible cultural heritage sites representing humanity recognized.

According to Mr. Phan Van Hoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lang Son province, artisans are "living treasures," playing a key role in the preservation of cultural heritage. Over the years, the department has advised on many policies to reward and support artisans; organized cultural exchange activities within and outside the province; and invited artisans to participate in teaching heritage in schools and communities.

From 2017 to the present, the province has organized 3 to 5 groups of artisans each year to participate in cultural and tourism events, showcasing heritage at major festivals. Many unique cultural performances have been organized, such as folk singing, lion dance, demonstrations of traditional crafts (weaving, indigo dyeing, basket weaving), and ethnic cuisine (making cakes, roasting pigs, roasting ducks)...

In 2020, the province successfully organized its first provincial folk song festival with the participation of approximately 400 artisans. The lion dance competitions in 2022 and 2024 continued to create a healthy platform, honoring artisans and preserving unique cultural features. In addition, the provincial folk song and cultural heritage preservation associations also played a good role in connecting and encouraging artisans to contribute to the heritage.

In 2024, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the People's Committees of districts and cities, implemented a policy to support 26 ethnic minority artisans. This is a great source of encouragement, helping artisans continue to be involved in the transmission and preservation of intangible cultural heritage.

Meritorious Artist Ninh Xuan Nhat, from Thien Tan commune, Huu Lung district, shared: “I am always dedicated to teaching the folk songs, customs, and beliefs of my ethnic group to the people and the younger generation. Thanks to support from all levels, the classes are becoming more systematic, giving me more opportunities to spread my love for the Cao Lan ethnic group's cultural heritage.”

Caring for, honoring, and supporting artisans is a fundamental solution for preserving and promoting the value of intangible cultural heritage within the community. Such attention not only helps heritage endure but also awakens national pride and builds a progressive Vietnamese culture rich in identity.

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/tiep-lua-tinh-yeu-di-san-1741660053584.htm