Speaking at the ceremony, Vice Chairman of Vinh Long Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Quynh Thien requested the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the province, relevant levels and sectors to strengthen information and propaganda work on the meaning and importance of heritage in the socio -economic development of the locality; develop a project to preserve and promote the value of the Khmer people's crown and mask making profession, and link tourism development programs with manufacturing facilities to spread heritage values.

Art program at the opening ceremony of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Week of Vinh Long province to welcome the Ok Om Bok festival in 2025. Photo: Culture Newspaper

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the province has researched and harmoniously combined two traditional crafts that have been recognized as national intangible cultural heritages, namely Ca Hom mat making and crown and mask making, to build unique cultural and tourism products of Vinh Long province.

In addition, the Department coordinates with the Department of Education and Training to research and gradually incorporate cultural heritage education into the curriculum at all levels, creating opportunities for students in the province to learn about traditional cultural values, especially access to intangible cultural heritages of the Khmer people, to promote, practice and pass on heritage.

Mao and mask are two traditional handicraft products, closely associated with the cultural and artistic life of the Khmer people in the South, formed over 2 centuries ago, serving various types of folk cultural and artistic activities, commonly folk dance, traditional dance, religious dance, and opera. The products not only carry strong folk cultural values, but also represent the sacred element in the spiritual life of the community.

The manufacturing process is entirely manual, requiring the artisan to have knowledge, understanding of art, creativity, meticulousness, and dexterity. This profession has been maintained and continued continuously through many generations, to serve folk art forms.

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vinh Long province Thach Boi, the province has a very rich treasure of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, with 45 national relics, 167 provincial relics, along with 19 intangible cultural heritages and 3 national treasures. In recent times, Vinh Long Museum has researched, collected and preserved about 48,300 artifacts and documents related to the formation and development of the province through many historical periods.

On this occasion, Vinh Long Museum received many artifacts donated by collectors; at the same time, it displayed more than 250 artifacts that are national treasures, artifacts related to the culture of ethnic groups, feudal dynasties, and costumes of ethnic groups at the Khmer Culture Museum, serving the needs of tourists and Khmer people to visit and learn about the culture of ethnic groups on the occasion of Ok Om Bok Festival.

VNA

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/vinh-long-cong-bo-di-san-van-hoa-phi-vat-the-quoc-gia-nghe-lam-mao-mat-na-cua-dong-bao-khmer-996799