Promoting traditional Vietnamese art

Vietnamese traditional arts are a “treasure” that is both rich, diverse, unique and special: from theater (tuong, cheo, cai luong, puppetry, etc.), music (ca tru, quan ho, hat xoan, xam, hat van, bai choi, etc.), to dance (folk, royal, etc.), fine arts (folk wood carvings, village temple sculptures, etc.)… Each type contains its own unique values, carrying the spirit and soul of the nation. Not only is it a heritage of the past, it is also a valuable resource for the present and the future. In recent times, many traditional art products such as Van Phuc silk, Dong Ho paintings, Bat Trang pottery, etc., or attractive ethnic stage shows continue to affirm their value in modern life, contributing to economic benefits, creating jobs and income for creative practitioners and businesses, etc. In particular, traditional art has also inspired and become the creative material of many contemporary art projects, especially in the fields of music, fashion design, architecture, etc., contributing significantly to the development of tourism and the country's cultural industry.

However, in the face of the negative impacts of the market mechanism, it must be acknowledged that today's traditional arts have been more or less damaged, even distorted, leading to the risk of losing their identity. The trend of commercialization has caused the original values ​​to fade, directly threatening the sustainable development of traditional arts. Not to mention, fierce competition with modern forms of entertainment has also caused the national stage to have few audiences, many traditional painting villages are at risk of being lost, many artisans and artists have quit their jobs due to unstable incomes... This situation poses an urgent need for solutions to preserve and promote the values ​​of traditional arts effectively, both adapting and developing in the flow of integration, and maintaining the identity factor.

Regarding the current situation and solutions to preserve and promote the value of traditional Vietnamese art in the context of market economic development and international integration, Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung, Vietnam Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism, said: Artists and artisans - those who practice art - play an extremely important role in creating, re-creating and teaching traditional art, but unfortunately, this team is seriously lacking in both quantity and quality. The evidence is that many art units are facing a crisis in the next generation of young people, human resource training units for traditional theater for many years have not been able to meet enrollment targets, artists are forced to "have one foot in, one foot out" to be able to make a living... The position of traditional art is therefore also seriously declining in modern life. To change this situation, Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung said that the most important solution is to pay special attention to training and developing human resources for traditional art. It is necessary to perfect institutions and policies, invest synchronously in training, build a suitable treatment and support regime for artisans and artists to maximize their talents and experience in creating and transmitting artistic quintessence. In addition, it is also necessary to diversify forms of human resource training for traditional art industries, along with formal training forms, including oral vocational training, forming local clubs, family clubs, etc., creating more spaces for artists and artisans to practice and pass on their skills to the younger generation.

Artists perform ca tru in a program introducing traditional Vietnamese art to tourists in Hanoi.

Affirming that promoting international exchange and cooperation is the solution to open up a "golden opportunity" to preserve and promote traditional arts, Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Son, full-time member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society, emphasized: In the context of globalization, international cooperation will promote the strategy of protecting traditional arts, preventing the risk of fading or assimilation, helping the community understand that traditional arts are the common property of humanity, thereby encouraging knowledge sharing and building an effective conservation model. In addition, international cooperation also helps traditional arts develop, affirming its position on the world cultural map, contributing to enhancing community consensus on the role of traditional arts in sustainable development, creating a driving force for connecting with education, tourism and the creative economy, expanding resources to support conservation. According to Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Son, through the development of effective legal policies, mobilizing diverse resources, promoting public-private cooperation and leveraging the role of the international art community, Vietnam can affirm its national cultural identity, while creating a foundation for the sustainable development of traditional art forms. Achievements such as the inclusion of Hue royal court music or Phu Tho xoan singing... in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity are clear evidence of the power of global cooperation.

Also mentioning the above issue from the perspective of the relationship with tourism, Master Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, Vietnam Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism, commented: To create resources for regeneration and development of traditional arts, exploiting tourism, especially cultural tourism, is a promising direction, because this combination helps maintain and protect the precious cultural values ​​of the nation while also creating a driving force for socio-economic development for the community of artisans and artists. To do so, it is necessary to have an effective strategy for preserving traditional arts associated with the tourism development plan, including classifying, evaluating, and identifying traditional art forms that are capable of attracting tourists, thereby coordinating with experts and travel agencies to develop specialized cultural tourism programs, creating conditions for tourists to enjoy, practice, and experience traditional art products.

Life is constantly moving, the public's need to access culture is also constantly changing, so many experts believe that in order to not be out of step, along with preserving the original state, traditional art also needs to "meet" with contemporary elements to increase the ability to reach the younger generation. Creating new products based on the foundation of traditional art not only brings new colors but also helps prolong the vitality, increase the economic value of traditional art, helping traditional art integrate into the flow of life today. Recently, the Center for Preservation of Traditional Vietnamese Performing Arts was established by the Association for Protection of Rights of Vietnamese Music Performing Artists, with the goal of protecting and promoting the value of intangible cultural heritages of the nation such as folk music, ca tru, traditional dance, cheo singing, cai luong, tuong... through activities such as research, training, preservation, organization of art events, support for young artists... This is a positive signal that opens up many hopes for traditional Vietnamese arts to have more opportunities to be present vividly in contemporary life.