Elevating Phu Tho Culture in the New Era

Culture has always been identified as the spiritual foundation of society, serving as a key objective and intrinsic driving force behind rapid and sustainable socio-economic development. President Ho Chi Minh once advised: “Culture must light the path for the nation.” In Phu Tho, defining and implementing cultural development strategies not only satisfies the demands of the modern era but also carries the sacred mission of preserving and promoting the nation’s ancestral values.

Performance of Phu Tho Xoan Singing at the 2026 Street Folk Culture Festival.

As the cradle of the Vietnamese nation, Phu Tho possesses a rich and diverse repository of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Representative intangible cultural heritages of humanity—such as the Worship of Hung Kings in Phu Tho and Xoan Singing—blend with the unique cultural identities of ethnic minority communities including the Muong, Dao, and Cao Lan, forming a cultural landscape that is both sacred and deeply identity-rich.

Recognizing the mission to preserve and foster these sacred ancestral values, the province has promptly concrete central directives and resolutions into a comprehensive guidance system. Concurrently, the Provincial Party Standing Committee issued Action Program No. 26-CTr/TU, Resolution No. 28-NQ/TU of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, and the Scheme for the Development of Phu Tho Culture and People (2026–2030, with a vision to 2045). Resolution dissemination and study programs were conducted extensively, reaching over 95% of officials and party members.

The traditional cultural beauty of the Muong ethnic community is preserved and promoted within the public life.

The established target aims for Phu Tho to become the national center of ancestral culture by 2030. Specific metrics include achieving a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.78, a Vietnam Development and Happiness Index (VDHI) of at least 85 points, 93.5% of households maintaining the Cultural Family title, and 100% of communes and wards equipping standardized cultural and sports facilities. Looking toward 2045, Phu Tho aspires to build a modern, identity-rich culture as a solid development pillar, elevating citizens' quality of life into the nation’s top tier.

Synchronous implementation has delivered practical outcomes. In the first six months of 2026, the cultural sector organized over 130 mobile publicity sessions, nearly 30 professional art shows, and over 1,000 film screenings for the public, particularly in remote areas. Physical exercise movements continued to expand, with 42.7% of residents practicing regularly and 2,350 sports clubs operating effectively.

Successfully hosting major sports tournaments contributes to a vibrant cultural landscape across the province.

Alongside large-scale events, grassroots cultural movements receive consistent direction across localities. Many communes and wards leverage public engagement to integrate cultural, artistic, and athletic pursuits into regular community life.

Comrade Dinh Hai Nam, Secretary of the Trung Son Commune Party Committee, shared: Building cultural life must begin by empowering residents as primary actors, fostering community consensus, and linking cultural movements with local socio-economic development tasks. The Commune Party Committee consistently leads the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations to grasp public aspirations, mobilizing citizens to actively participate in cultural, artistic, and sports activities to solidify national solidarity.

Grassroots cultural models continue to spread, building healthy, identity-rich environments from villages and hamlets to residential blocks. On this foundation, the ancestral cultural space tied to the Hung Temple Historical Relic Area maintains its strong draw. The 2026 Hung Temple Festival attracted millions of domestic and international visitors to offer incense and visit, creating a solemn, moving atmosphere of community connection.

In parallel, Xoan Singing continues to shine with enduring vitality and a capacity to connect people across language barriers.

People’s Artisan Nguyen Thi Lich, Head of the An Thai Xoan Guild, shared: “The An Thai Xoan Guild currently features five generations singing together. Performing for domestic and international visitors fills me with joy and pride. Foreign guests especially love Xoan Singing; upon hearing the melody and watching the movements, they join in enthusiastically when invited. Even without sharing a language, the singing, clappers, and Xoan drumbeats connect hearts, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere. That is the sacred value and power of heritage that generations of Xoan guilds in Phu Tho continuously preserve and spread.”

Consequently, cultural tourism has experienced a breakthrough, welcoming over 10.5 million visitors in the first six months of 2026, generating an estimated revenue of 10,755 billion VND.

These achievements form a crucial foundation for Phu Tho to continue asserting its position as the national center of ancestral culture.

With decisive involvement across the political system and strong public consensus, the culture of the Ancestral Land will increasingly flourish as a powerful internal resource—fostering well-rounded development for Phu Tho’s people and driving the province toward rapid, sustainable growth in the new era.

Le Hoang