Preserving Traditions Through Village Festivals

As spring arrives, village festivals across the Ancestral Land are in full swing. These spiritual and communal cultural activities express the gratitude of descendants to their ancestors who contributed to nation-building and defense, safeguarding national independence throughout history. They also play a vital role in preserving cultural identity while promoting new rural development and civilized urban areas.

Vinh Mo Communal House, located in Cao Xa Commune, Lam Thao District, is a provincially recognized historical and cultural relic, officially classified by the government in 1998. The communal house is dedicated to Nguyen Van Ky, a renowned general from the Hung Kings era. After assisting the king in quelling invaders, he settled in this area, gathered people, and cultivated the land, establishing what is now Vinh Te Village (Cao Xa) — a historically rich land on the left bank of the Thao River, flourishing with lush greenery year-round.

Proud of the priceless heritage passed down by their ancestors, the people of Vinh Te Village place great importance on educating younger generations about their traditions. One such tradition is the Vinh Mo Communal House Wrestling Festival, a cherished cultural practice and community activity of local residents.

According to tradition, every year on the 6th and 7th days of the lunar calendar, locals eagerly gather to immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere of the Vinh Mo Communal House Wrestling Festival. This year, the Party Committee, government, and people of Vinh Te Village are honored and proud that the festival has been officially recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Phu Tho, the ancestral land of the Vietnamese people, is rich in cultural heritage across all administrative regions. The province currently maintains 315 festivals (311 traditional festivals and four cultural festivals), mostly concentrated in the first three months of the year. While most festivals in Phu Tho are village festivals, many have widespread influence, such as the Hung Kings’ Temple Festival, which embodies the cultural essence of various village festivals in the Ancestral Land. These festivals provide opportunities for communities to practice and showcase their unique cultural heritage, attracting tens of thousands of locals and visitors for worship and celebration.

To ensure the continuity of traditional festivals, every year, under the direction of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, district and municipal cultural offices proactively advise local People’s Committees to instruct commune, ward, and town-level authorities to enhance public awareness and responsibility. This includes educating government agencies, the public, and tourists on complying with Party and State regulations regarding festival management and organization, ensuring that celebrations align with cultural traditions while being safe, orderly, and cost-effective.

Between 2020 and 2024, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism compiled scientific dossiers for five festivals to be included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. These festivals include: Van Luong Temple Festival (Van Phu Ward, Viet Tri City); Hung Lo Communal House Festival (Hung Lo Commune, Viet Tri City); Procession of Chua Gai Festival (Hung Son Town, Lam Thao District); Du Yen Temple Festival (Chi Tien Commune, Thanh Ba District); Vinh Mo Communal House Wrestling Festival (Cao Xa Commune, Lam Thao District).

In 2025, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism will continue the process of recognizing outstanding intangible cultural heritage in the province. The Cuop Ken Festival in Di Nau Commune, Tam Nong District, has been proposed for inclusion in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list for 2025.

Under the project “Preserving and Promoting the Cultural Values of Ethnic Minority Groups Associated with Tourism Development,” which is part of the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has carried out efforts to preserve and restore traditional festivals of ethnic minorities. Notable examples include: the Ngoc Tan Communal House Festival in Ngoc Quan Commune, Doan Hung District; the Khoang Communal House Festival in Huong Can Commune, Thanh Son District; and the traditional New Rice Festival of the Muong people in Tu Vu Commune, Thanh Thuy District.

Regarding this initiative, Mr. Nguyen Dac Thuy, Provincial Party Member and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, emphasized: "Traditional festivals have always received attention and support from Party committees, local authorities, and the public. Organizing these festivals helps sustain, practice, teach, and showcase intangible cultural heritage in the community, affirming their historical, cultural, and scientific values. It also highlights the role of intangible cultural heritage in contemporary society, guiding the province in developing solutions to preserve and promote the cultural values of village festivals while ensuring effective heritage management."

Anh Tho