Preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of ethnic groups

Last October , the cultural house of Lieng village, Noong Luong commune, Dien Bien district was lit every night. Because there was a class teaching the ancient Thai ethnic script. The class only took place in the evening, there were no tests, no grading, and students were of various ages from 12 to 65. In this special class, there were mothers and children going to school together, two sisters carefully writing each letter, and even couples carefully practicing reading each letter of their ethnic script... They came to class with a love for the ancient Thai script, wishing to preserve the ancient Thai script for future generations. For them, learning the ancient Thai script was not simply learning to write and speak, but also learning the good traditional cultural values that had existed for a long time from their ancestors.

Mr. Tong Van Han, the Provincial Association of Literature and Arts for Ethnic Minorities - who directly teaches the class, shared: “I myself have created a very detailed but easy-to-understand lesson plan, close to daily life. I have created the lesson plan from the first letters, the first characters, and instructed on how to combine each sound and each rhyme. With the aim of making it simple and easy for our people to learn...”.

Since joining the ancient Thai language class, Mrs. Quàng Thị Kim from Liêm village has always done her housework early to get to class on time. Starting out as someone who did not know a single letter of her ethnic script, she can now read and write fluently... Mrs. Quàng Thị Kim shared: “The Thai language and script are an indispensable part of the cultural treasure of the Thai ethnic group in particular, contributing to creating a culture rich in the identity of ethnic groups in general. I am 62 years old this year but I still diligently learn to read and write each letter. First, to learn the written script of my ethnic group, then to teach it to my children and grandchildren. Only then can we preserve our written script...”.

With the spirit of preserving heritage for future generations, in recent times, the Provincial Museum has opened many classes to teach the crafting of Mong flutes, contributing to the art of crafting this unique musical instrument to always be passed down. Not only serving the spiritual life of the Mong people but also spreading, becoming products that attract domestic and foreign tourists, promoting local tourism development. In 2023, the Provincial Museum opened classes to teach the crafting of Mong flutes in the districts of Muong Nhe, Muong Ang, Tua Chua... Students are taught by artisans the secrets of choosing materials, how to craft components such as: body, tube, belt and how to cast bronze, make reeds... to create a complete flute. Mr. Dang Trong Ha, Director of the Provincial Museum said: “Through the work of teaching the process of creating a complete panpipe, it is the basis for preserving and promoting its value, creating opportunities and a favorable environment for the heritage of “The art of making and dancing panpipes of the Mong people” to have vitality in the community, so that the community can preserve and promote those good cultural heritage values. This is also a source of encouragement for the Mong people in preserving their own cultural values, encouraging artisans to teach the heritage to the next generation, contributing to enriching the cultural and spiritual life of the people, strengthening and consolidating the great solidarity among ethnic groups, promoting tourism development, aiming at the common goal of socio -economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in Dien Bien province”.

Dien Bien is a border province with 19 ethnic groups living together with diverse cultural colors. Currently, the work of preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values of ethnic groups in the area has been and is receiving special attention from all levels and sectors. Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: In 2021, the Provincial Party Committee issued Resolution No. 11-NQ/TU on preserving and developing the culture of ethnic groups in Dien Bien province, associated with socio-economic development in the period of 2021 - 2025, with a vision to 2030. Based on the targets and tasks of the Resolution, the Department of Culture has advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue a project and implementation plan in the whole province in each period. In which, the key tasks of preserving tangible and intangible cultural heritage; invest in and promote the value of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, develop tourism, improve the cultural life of the province's ethnic groups; pay attention to training and improve the quality of human resources to serve the work of preserving and developing ethnic cultures.

“Based on the assigned tasks in the projects and plans on preserving and developing the culture of ethnic groups, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has directed the departments and units under the department to implement and achieve many outstanding results. For example, the survey, inventory, collection and documentation of traditional cultural heritage of ethnic minorities; including inventory and assessment of the current status of cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO and cultural heritage included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Organizing the preservation and restoration of typical traditional festivals of ethnic minorities; organizing the teaching of making panpipes of the Mong people in Muong Ang, Muong Nhe, Tua Chua districts; organizing research and preservation of traditional sports and special sports of the Thai ethnic group of the Thai White branch in Na Su village, Cha Nua commune, Nam Po district... In addition, the department also built and put into operation a system Managing and digitizing relics, intangible cultural heritage and artifacts of Dien Bien Provincial Museum..." - Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep added.

Source