(HBO) – The preservation and promotion of ethnic groups’ cultural values are meant to help educate the public on history and fine cultural traditions, boost exchanges to enrich culture, build a healthy cultural environment, and help comprehensively develop people’s personality. In recent years, Lac Son district has effectively tapped into local cultural identities in tandem with boosting sustainable tourism development and improving people’s material and spiritual lives, thereby contributing to socio-economic development.

On December 20, 2021, the Party Committee of Lac Son district issued Resolution No 08-NQ/HU on preserving and bringing into play the Muong ethnic group’s cultural identity, showing its determination to achieve the long-term targets on cultural development and preservation. On July 6, 2022, the district People’s Committee approved a project on preserving and bringing into play ethnic groups’ cultural identities in Lac Son in the 2022 - 2025 period, with a vision to 2030. Local authorities have also implemented Plan No 107/KH-UBND, dated August 22, 2022, to identify the tasks and responsibilities of agencies, sectors, organisations, and localities while engaging people of all social strata in cultural preservation and promotion.

Besides, Lac Son has classified intangible cultural heritage; collected, preserved, and brought into play the ones at high risk of falling into oblivion; compiled dossiers seeking authorised agencies’ recognition of such intangible cultural heritage as the Coi Communal House Festival in Vu Binh commune, the Khenh Communal House Festival in Van Son commune, the Voi swinging festival in Vu Ban town, the art of folk singing, and the art of playing Muong gongs.

It has also continued seeking authorities’ granting of the People’s Artisan and Meritorious Artisan titles to local artisans who have made great contributions to cultural preservation and promotion. The district has increased the teaching of intangible cultural heritage to young people, held exhibitions, and carried out a project on building a space for preserving the Muong ethnic cultural heritage in Yen Phu commune.

In terms of tangible cultural heritage, Lac Son has assessed the value of relic sites and scenic landscapes to propose the inclusion of those places in the district’s and province’s lists of the sites entitled to protection. The ones with historical, cultural, and natural values have been selected to build dossiers submitted to authorities for ranking. Efforts have also been made to restore relic sites and develop attractive destinations and tours.

In addition, Lac Son has devised mechanisms and policies to encourage artisans to participate in preserving and bringing into play cultural heritage values. It has also worked to improve the capacity of cultural practitioners, especially artisans in the community, so that they can serve as the core of cultural preservation and promotion.

Aside from efforts by the local Party committee and administration, residents in Lac Son have also been joining hands in upholding traditional cultural values. Such outstanding cultural heritage pieces as "mo Muong”, prayers to ancestors in festivals or anniversaries, the "thuong rang bo meng” singing, Muong gongs, traditional musical instruments, patterns on brocades, the weaving craft, and folk stories are still being kept. People have also maintained traditional festivals, fine customs, folk knowledge about literature and arts, traditional-style stilt houses, and traditional craft villages. Local hamlets have also set up clubs to practice the Muong ethnic culture.

Bui Van Duong, Vice Chairman of the Lac Son People’s Committee, said authorities and people’s awareness of cultural preservation and promotion is being improved, helping build a healthy cultural environment and life.

The district targets that by 2025, 20% of the local Muong people can write the Muong script, 85% will know how to wear traditional costumes properly and worn them regularly on anniversaries, each communal-level locality will develope at least one traditional craft village, and each hamlet will have at least one club about the Muong culture.

In the long term, authorities will continue stepping up cultural value preservation and promotion, propose relevant agencies to honour more artisans, expand the scale of cultural, sports and traditional festivals, and boost preserving traditional culture villages in tandem with developing community-based tourism, the official added./.