As soon as the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam) was founded, to protect and consolidate the revolution’s achievements, under the Party’s leadership, the provisional Government led by President Ho Chi Minh issued a series of decrees to manage and construct the country.
Notably, Decree No. 65, the first on cultural heritage preservation, was released on November 23, 1945. With regard to the preservation of the national cultural identities, he repeatedly stressed the importance of bringing into the nation’s characteristics. His consistent viewpoint is that the preservation and promotion of the national cultural identities must not be separated from socio-economic development. Following his teachings, people of all ethnic groups in Hoa Binh province, especially artisans, have worked hard to uphold and teach local cultural heritage to help with the national culture prevention and promotion.
Meritorious Artisan Ly Van Henh in Sung hamlet of Cao Son commune (Da Bac
district) teaches the Dao ethnic script to local residents.
To President Ho Chi Minh, preserving the national cultural identities is a
crucial task but the more important is to apply and develop those identities to
life, which is the best way to maintain the national culture. Following the
late leader’s thought, Meritorious Artisan Ly Van Henh in Sung hamlet of Cao
Son commune (Da Bac district) has spent his entire life researching,
preserving, and passing down the culture of the Dao ethnic group to other
people. With the desire to maintain the minority’s quintessence, the
75-year-old is still travelling far and wide to teach the script, language, and
culture of Dao people.
He said the Dao ethnic group boasts a rich culture, from their language,
script, costumes to customs and worship rituals. It is fact that like other
ethnic minorities, the culture of Dao people is facing risk of gradual
disintegration. He thought that one of the best way to uphold the group's
cultural identity is to teach the language and script to Dao children and
adults. A survey once showed that less than one-third of Dao residents in Da
Bac district were fluent in their ethnic group's language, which motivated him
to surmount all difficulties and his old age to continue his path to preserve
and promote the minority's cultural values.
Spending over 50 years studying the Dao culture, Henh not only has in-depth
understanding of the group's language, script, and culture but has also
collected a large number of old books about their folk knowledge, rituals, and
customs. He began teaching the Nom Dao script to his descendants in 1997. After
that, more and more residents in his neighbourhood and nearby areas came to
learn. In 2008, he sought the local administration's permission to teach the
script on a larger scale in Da Bac district. Free classes have been opened in
such communes as Toan Son, Tan Pheo, Doan Ket, and Vay Nua in Da Bac district,
and Kim Thuong of Tan Son district (Phu Tho province), attracting thousands of
learners.
In
addition, Henh has also played an active role in activities of the Centre for
the Sustainable Development of Mountainous Areas, helping preserve and
popularise the cultural identity of Dao people to people nationwide as well as
foreigners.
Thanks to his relentless efforts in cultural preservation and promotion, he was
granted the "Meritorious Artisan" title in the field of intangible
cultural heritage in 2019. In November 2024, he received a certificate of merit
from the Prime Minister for his outstanding achievements in studying and
following President Ho Chi Minh's ideology, moral example, and style.
In mid-May, the provincial Museum organised an exhibition named "Duoi la co Dang Cong san Viet Nam quang vinh” (Under the flag of the glorious Communist Party of Vietnam). This meaningful activity took place in the joyful atmosphere to celebrate the country's major holidays and the Party congresses at all levels for the 2025-2030 term, towards the 14th National Party Congress.
A delegation from Hoa Binh province led by Colonel Trinh Duc Thiem, Commander of the provincial Military Command, completed a mission to visit and encourage officers and soldiers stationed on Truong Sa and a DK1 platform from May 20 to 26 as part of activities of the Vietnam People’s Navy. The delegation included 12 senior officials from various provincial agencies and units.
Storytelling and painting contests honouring President Ho Chi Minh have been held at the Hoa Binh provincial Youth Activity Centre.
The Hoa Binh provincial People's Committee held a gathering at the provincial Military Command headquarters on May 20 to commend the armed forces that took part in a military parade celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification on April 30.
Throughout his revolutionary life, Uncle Ho visited Hoa Binh province four times. He also sent dozens of letters, telegrams, greeting cards, and heartfelt messages to local officials, Party members, and people of all ethnic groups, urging them to remain united, support one another, strive for progress, and actively engage in both production and resistance efforts to build a prosperous homeland.
To unlock the full potential of its forest resources, the standing board of the provincial Party Committee on July 30, 2020 issued a Resolution on the sustainable development of production forests through 2025, with a vision toward 2030.
