New life for heritage

Ninh Thuan, a land with a strong cultural imprint, possesses many unique heritages from traditional craft villages, folk festivals to ancient architectural works. These cultural values ​​not only contribute to enriching regional identity, but also become a driving force for tourism development, contributing to economic development and preserving traditional cultural values.

Enhancing heritage associated with tourism

In spring, Po Klong Garai Tower (Phan Rang - Thap Cham City) shines brightly under the warm yellow sunlight, highlighting the ancient beauty of the stone blocks, leading visitors to a journey to discover the cultural and religious values ​​of the Cham people following Brahmanism. With its unique architecture and long history, this place has become an attractive destination for tourists from all over the world. In order to exploit the cultural heritage value of Po Klong Garai Tower to develop tourism, in recent times, Ninh Thuan province has focused on the restoration and conservation of cultural heritage associated with cultural promotion. Accordingly, along with upgrading infrastructure, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DOCST) organizes local tours; regularly organizes experiential activities such as: Traditional Cham art performances, Cham pottery art performances; handicraft exhibitions, thereby creating highlights to attract tourists. Mr. Thanh Nhay, Deputy Director of the Provincial Museum, said: To promote the special national relic of Po Klong Garai tower, the Management Board focuses on developing unique tourism products, training a team of professional tour guides, organizing educational programs on the value of cultural heritage for students, combining many Cham cultural events, thereby preserving and spreading the beauty of traditional Cham culture to domestic and foreign tourists. In 2024 alone, Po Klong Garai tower attracted 192,716 visitors, including nearly 61,000 international visitors, bringing in revenue of more than 3.7 billion VND, reaching 148.16% of the plan, contributing to the development of the local socio-economy.

Tourists attend the Kate Festival of the Cham people following Brahmanism at Po Klong Garai tower. Photo: Thai Huy

Tangible and intangible cultural heritages are considered destinations for tourists to visit and experience. In the spring atmosphere, when nature and people are full of vitality, traditional craft villages such as Bau Truc pottery and My Nghiep brocade weaving, Phuoc Dan town (Ninh Phuoc) become attractive destinations, where visitors can immerse themselves in the vibrant cultural space, discover the quintessence of traditional crafts. Here, each ceramic product, each brocade piece is not only an item, but also preserves the cultural quintessence, craftsmanship and the vitality of indigenous people's lives through many generations. The Kate Festival of the Cham people is also a brilliant highlight, held on the 1st of the 7th month of the Cham calendar every year (around September-October of the solar calendar), when spring has just arrived. This is an occasion for people to honor their ancestors, pray for "favorable weather and wind", bountiful crops and health and happiness for their families. The dances and songs resounded with the deep and deep sounds of Ghinang drums and the clear sounds of Saranai trumpets, creating a lively cultural space, deeply imprinted in the hearts of every visitor. In addition, the Raglai people's grave-abandoning ceremony and the new rice festival are also unique rituals, contributing to embellishing the rich cultural picture of Ninh Thuan. Promoting cultural values ​​does not stop at conservation, but is also transformed into a driving force for economic development. Some localities have successfully built community tourism models associated with promoting cultural heritage. Thanks to attention and good performance, many cultural heritages have been preserved, embellished, spread, and promoted, contributing to enriching the spiritual and cultural life of the people, forming attractive and unique tourism products, attracting tourists, and promoting socio-economic development.

Photo: Tien Manh

Continue to preserve and promote heritage

In order to preserve and promote the values ​​of cultural heritage, every year, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has done a good job of inventorying historical - cultural relics and scenic spots in the area, assessing the current status of conservation work, promoting the values ​​of ranked relics, meeting the cultural and spiritual needs of the community and contributing to promoting and serving tourism activities. In 2024 alone, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has coordinated with units and localities to implement the project of restoring the Hoa Lai tower relic (Thuan Bac); restoring and reconstructing the national historical relic of Pi Nang Tac stone trap, Phuoc Binh commune (Bac Ai)... In addition, the unit has implemented many active activities to preserve and promote the value of intangible cultural heritage "Cham pottery art" - an art form with a long history and unique techniques, which has now been listed by UNESCO as a heritage in need of urgent protection. Accordingly, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism coordinated with Ninh Thuan Newspaper, Ninh Thuan Radio and Television to promote and advertise Cham ceramic products on mass media. Ceramic products are not only the pride of the Cham people, but also become meaningful gifts in major events, contributing to promoting local culture. "Cham ceramic art" is also favored to be chosen as a miniature landscape displayed in the spring flower garden, attracting the attention of many people and tourists. The ceramic products on display are not only aesthetic, but also contain the soul of the traditional ceramic craft. Ceramic artisans, with their talented hands, constantly create works that are both traditional and modern, meeting the needs of visitors to admire and shop. The province also encourages artisans to participate in performances at major cultural events, bringing Cham ceramic art closer to the public.

Reenacting the new rice celebration ritual of the Raglai people in Phuoc Ha commune (Thuan Nam). Photo: Ngoc Diep

Comrade Nguyen Van Linh, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: With the efforts of the functional sector, initially, tangible and intangible cultural heritages have been exploited, their values ​​have been promoted, becoming resources and products serving the development of local tourism. In the coming time, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will strengthen propaganda work to all levels, sectors, cadres and people about the meaning and importance of preserving cultural heritage values, thereby raising awareness of all classes of people in socialization to effectively carry out the work of preserving and embellishing typical historical and cultural relics, prioritizing the preservation of revolutionary historical relics; cultural heritages of ethnic minorities, serving traditional education and socio-economic development.

Spring in Ninh Thuan is not only the time of harmony between heaven and earth, but also the season of culture and festivals. The combination of preserving and promoting the value of cultural heritage, on the one hand, contributes to promoting socio-economic development, on the other hand, affirms the unique identity of Ninh Thuan on the tourism map of Vietnam. In the full spring light, these precious cultural values ​​will be preserved forever, becoming the pride of today's and future generations.

On November 29, 2022, at the 17th Session in Rabat, Morocco, the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 UNESCO Convention decided to list Cham pottery art as an intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding.

Duy Nam

Source: http://baoninhthuan.com.vn/news/151581p1c29/suc-song-moi-cho-di-san.htm