Tan Son preserves and promotes cultural values

Tan Son is a mountainous district located in the northwest of Phu Tho province, home to 19 ethnic groups, with ethnic minorities making up over 83.5% of the population. The diverse and unique cultural identity of the region has been preserved by the local people and authorities for many years.

In recent years, Tan Son District People’s Committee has worked to restore, conserve, and develop many tangible and intangible cultural values distinctive to the Muong, Mong, and Dao ethnic groups. This includes the languages of the Muong, Dao, and Mong people, their traditional clothing, Muong ethnic cuisine, and various folk performances and rituals such as Vi singing, Rang singing, drum dancing, gong performances, Moi dancing, and the Lap Tinh ritual.

Traditional customs, practices, and festivals of ethnic minorities have been collected and restored, such as the Field Plowing Festival, New Rice Festival, Rice Spirit Procession, and Tet Doi (a traditional New Year celebration). Traditional cultural and sports activities are enthusiastically promoted within the community, such as the Ethnic Cultural and Sports Festival, traditional sports competitions, culinary festivals, folk art performances, and traditional costume showcases.

To preserve the cultural identity of ethnic groups, Tan Son District People’s Committee has issued plans and guidelines to establish folk and traditional art groups in villages, schools, and communities throughout the district. Currently, the district has established 183 cultural and folk art clubs, with over 3,000 members participating in activities like Cham Duong drumming, Vi singing, Rang singing, Chuong bell dancing, Sinh Tien dancing, Lap Tinh rituals, Khen playing, gong performances, Xoan singing, and Cheo opera singing.

From 2020 to 2023, the district has collaborated with the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to organize six training classes to teach and guide the practice of traditional cultural heritage; one training class on Vi singing, Rang singing, and Cham Duong drumming for local folk artists, with 102 participants, and three classes on building folk cultural clubs for the Muong ethnic group.

As part of the National Target Program for the Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas (Project 6), from 2020 to 2023, the district allocated approximately 2.5 billion VND to support the purchase of equipment for traditional art groups in ethnic minority and mountainous villages. This funding also supported efforts to widely promote and publicize the outstanding traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities, as well as tourism promotion programs in these areas. These initiatives were combined with research and surveys to explore tourism potential and develop distinctive tourism products for ethnic minority and mountainous regions. Additionally, the district provided support for People’s Artists and Outstanding Ethnic Minority Artists in preserving and passing down traditional cultural practices and in training successors.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Toan, Chairman of Tan Son District People’s Committee, stated that in the coming period, the district will continue to raise public awareness about the importance of preserving and promoting ethnic cultural identities. At the same time, the district plans to increase funding to support the construction, repair, and upgrading of equipment for village cultural houses and sports centers. Scientific research projects related to the collection, study, preservation, and promotion of ethnic cultural heritage will also be implemented, with a focus on aligning these efforts with the socio-economic development goals and tasks in areas where ethnic minorities live.

Bao Khanh