Preserving and promoting the cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development

In recent years, An Giang province has effectively implemented programs and policies related to the preservation and promotion of the unique cultural values ​​and identities of the Khmer people.

In particular, the implementation of the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2030 period; Phase I from 2021-2025 (National Target Program 1719) has provided important resources and added motivation to the work of preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development.

The wedding ceremony of the Khmer ethnic minority in Nui To commune (Tri Ton district, An Giang province) took place in a bustling atmosphere, with fewer bad customs than before. (Photo: Phuong Nghi)

Promoting traditional cultural values

During the Chol Chnam Thmay, Sen Dolta, the beginning of summer, the end of summer, etc. festivals, bustling scenes can be seen, attracting many tourists to participate in the experience... In recent times, in addition to traditional festivals held in the community, the functional sectors in the province have also organized many cultural, sports and tourism festivals to honor the unique traditional cultural identity of the Khmer ethnic minority. Many artisans and monks have been given favorable conditions and resources to teach the pentatonic instrument, writing, Cha Pay, brocade weaving, pottery making, Di Ke dance, etc. to the younger generation.

Venerable Chau Ty, Deputy Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, abbot of Soai So Tom Nop Pagoda (Nui To Commune, Tri Ton District, An Giang Province), shared his excitement and emotion at the fact that authorities at all levels have paid great attention and created favorable conditions for the Khmer community to preserve and promote traditional music through graceful songs and dances, Du Ke plays containing many sentiments and rituals of worship on holidays and Tet, in extremely colorful traditional costumes.

Implementing the National Target Program 1719, An Giang is allocated 8,170 billion VND for the work of preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development. Of which, the central budget capital is 7,427 billion VND, the local budget capital is 0,743 billion VND.

Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of An Giang Nguyen Khanh Hiep said: All levels, sectors and localities continue to preserve, disseminate, transmit and promote the unique traditional values ​​of ethnic minorities; raise awareness, pride and self-awareness of people in preserving and promoting traditional cultural values. Focus on preserving and promoting the values ​​of traditional folk songs, dances and music of ethnic minorities to become typical cultural tourism products. In addition, inventory, collect and document typical heritages of ethnic minorities; recreate the Du Ke Performing Art heritage of the Khmer people; preserve and restore the Housewarming Ceremony of the Cham people; build a Du Ke Performing Folk Culture Club of the Khmer people...

“In the process of preserving cultural values, prestigious people with folk art performance skills are the team of artisans who pass on secrets and knowledge of practicing intangible cultural heritages in general and folk songs, folk dances, and folk music, participating in activities to teach traditional culture to the young generation in schools and communities,” said Mr. Hiep.

Ms. Chau Ngoc Dieu with Palmania palm sugar product that has received 4-star OCOP certification. (Photo: Phuong Nghi)

Exploiting potential for tourism development

Recently, after being supported to participate in community tourism models in the Cham village of Da Phuoc (An Phu district, An Giang province), the lives of the Cham people have improved significantly. Mr. Ysa, a resident of the Cham village of Da Phuoc, shared: “Previously, brocade weaving products, sarongs, scarves, shirts, and traditional handicrafts mainly served the Cham community, but now they have become tourism products, favored by tourists. Similarly, traditional dishes of the Cham people of An Giang such as tung lo mo (beef sausage), curry rice ni, grilled beef cake (namparang cake) ... have become specialties serving tourists.

Developing community tourism associated with traditional culture not only helps Cham ethnic minorities earn more income and improve their quality of life, but also helps them become more confident and bold in communication. Many Cham people have become successful.

A typical OCOP product of the Khmer ethnic people in the mountainous district of Tri Ton is Palmania palm sugar of Ms. Chau Ngoc Dieu, Director of Palmania Joint Stock Company (Tri Ton town, Tri Ton district, An Giang province), which has been granted an exclusive trademark certificate by the Department of Intellectual Property, a 4-star OCOP product and is proposed as a 5-star national OCOP product.

Ms. Chau Ngoc Dieu said: “Palmania is the passion, the desire, and the aspiration of the Khmer people in the Bay Nui region. Palmania is 100% natural, does not use additives, and because it does not use the method of separating the molasses, when made into powder, the product still retains the aroma, the characteristic delicious taste of palm sugar and the minerals in the traditional thick palm sugar”.

Thanks to its quality, the product is sought after by foreign markets. “Currently, Palmania palm honey products are distributed in 14 provinces and cities, with more than 50 points of sale nationwide and the company is promoting the product in the European market,” shared Director Chau Ngoc Dieu.

When coming to Chau Phong Cham village, visitors will experience the old craft villages and enjoy traditional dishes. This is the direction that Cham girl Hua Thi Rokya in Phum Xoai hamlet, Chau Phong commune (Tan Chau town, An Giang province) chose when she graduated from university and had a stable life in Ho Chi Minh City when she decided to return to her hometown to start a business with her family's traditional profession.

Thinking that this is a potential product, and is popular with many people, she is determined to "bring the bell to strike foreign lands", from the South to the North, as long as there is an opportunity to promote the product, she does not hesitate to participate. In the past, every time visitors come to Cham village, Rokyah will accompany the whole program, both guiding visitors to experience and enjoy tung lo mo, and introducing the history of the formation of the dish associated with the living habits, the typical values ​​of culture and life of the Cham ethnic community.

Through the development of community tourism, not only does it contribute to preserving traditional cultural values, but it also helps local people earn additional income from introducing and selling products.

The process of making tung lo mo by the family of Cham girl Hua Thi Rokya. (Photo: Phuong Nghi)

Hua Thi Rokyah expressed: "I am very passionate about this community tourism model, but it had to be temporarily suspended shortly after it started due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. By the end of 2022, I started it again, and many groups of visitors have come to visit and experience the Anas facility."

She was very happy when "tourists were very interested and focused on listening to me talk about traditional Cham culture as well as the story of the product. Everyone also asked many questions about the product and traditional culture, because the more we talked, the more they wanted to hear more introductions."

Caring for, supporting and creating conditions to preserve and promote the unique cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities through specific actions, close to practical needs, has, is and will contribute to creating a widespread influence in preserving and promoting the unique cultural features of ethnic minorities in An Giang.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/bao-ton-phat-huy-gia-tri-van-hoa-cac-dan-toc-thieu-so-gan-voi-phat-trien-du-lich-279476.html