Place of Preserving the Spirit of the Countryside

In the process of building new rural areas, besides focusing on investing in and upgrading infrastructure and improving the living standards of the people, the Party Committee, government, and people of Phuong Lau commune, Viet Tri city have made efforts to preserve and promote the beautiful traditional cultural values, keeping the spirit of the countryside of this ancient land.

The first impression upon arriving in Phuong Lau commune is the image of the residential areas in the commune, which harmoniously blend modernity with antiquity. Along with the well-constructed and solid infrastructure such as roads, electricity, schools, and health stations, the spatial form, landscape, village customs, and cultural characteristics of the ancient land are still preserved and maintained... This is the core foundation that holds sustainable value and is the goal that needs to be focused on in the process of building and maintaining new rural areas.Among them, Phuong An Communal House is dedicated to the 18th Hung King (Hung Due King) and the generals of the Hung Kings’ era; Phuong An Temple honors the deity General Dung Manh Hau. The historical relics are associated with traditional wrestling festivals. Through these activities, community cohesion and solidarity among neighborhoods and villages are strengthened. The people strictly observe the village’s customs and regulations; the residents actively practice a new cultural lifestyle that is frugal and civilized...

Determining the construction of new rural areas does not mean urbanizing rural areas but rather preserving the ‘soul’ of the countryside. Therefore, in recent years, in addition to focusing on leading economic development and improving the living standards of the people, the Party Committee and local government of Phuong Lau commune have always emphasized directing the construction of a safe and healthy cultural environment for new rural areas, with civilized and friendly people; actively preserving the landscapes, architecture, and cultural elements that embody the traditional values of the homeland.

Currently, within the commune, there are a cluster of historical and cultural relics such as pagodas, communal houses, temples, and shrines. Among them, there are 2 sites ranked as national historical and cultural relics, 3 sites ranked at the provincial level, and 2 sites that have not yet been ranked.

In addition, Phuong Lau is the origin of Xoan singing, which has been recognized by UNESCO as a “Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,” associated with the national historical and cultural relic of An Thai Communal House, as well as the ethnic relics linked to the Phuong An communal house and shrine complex, and the boat racing associated with the worship of General Bat Nan...

The implementation of the movement “The Entire Population Unites to Build a Cultural Life,” connected with building new rural areas in the locality, has contributed to improving the quality of life for the people. The effective implementation of socialization has actively contributed to preserving, conserving, and promoting the system of relics, safeguarding invaluable spiritual cultural values for future generations.

Currently, the commune has an ethnic sports club, a boat racing club, a Xoan singing club, and a Phu Tho folk singing club. Every neighborhood in the commune has cultural and sports clubs. After school hours and work hours, the cultural center becomes lively with community activities, including health exercises, chess playing, folk dance practices, table tennis, and volleyball; youth and adolescents engage in football and badminton.

Along with that, the local residents always pay attention to the meaningful lifestyle of “sharing light and warmth in times of need,” fostering bonds of friendship among neighbors, which has made the community even warmer and more connected, becoming an “unwritten law” in rural areas... This creates a rich traditional cultural tapestry, deeply imbued with the identity of Phuong Lau, paired with economic development, enhancing the material and spiritual lives of the people.”

Anh Duong