In recent years, Tra Vinh province has effectively implemented programs and policies related to the preservation and promotion of the values and cultural identities of ethnic minorities.
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 (abbreviated as 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.
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| On Chol Chnam Thmay Festival 2023, the Khmer Culture and Arts Club in Hoa An Commune (Cau Ke District, Tra Vinh Province) interacts with tourists. (Photo: Phuong Nghi) |
Exploiting the potential of ethnic minority cultural identity
Tra Vinh has a rich and diverse culture through religious festivals, art forms, traditional occupations, and distinctive cultural features. Recently, Tra Vinh has been focusing on the Khmer ethnic community to build a cultural life associated with the cultural identity of the nation, especially building tourism products that promote domestic cultural identity.
Promoting the advantages of Khmer culture, Tra Vinh province has exploited them to invite tourists to experience and explore. Coming to Tra Vinh Khmer Cultural Tourism Village, visitors can experience the chain of tourist sites linking the Ao Ba Om scenic relic; Ang Pagoda architectural and artistic relic; Khmer Ethnic Culture Museum; Khmer Anh Binh Minh art troupe, enjoy music from the pentatonic orchestra, Chay Dam drum dance, ethnic dances, visit the wood carving craft village, visit and learn about making traditional masks with artisans, enjoy Khmer ethnic specialties...
Among them, Ao Ba Om scenic relic is a destination that attracts many tourists. This is a national-level relic belonging to the category of scenic spots. Surrounding the pond are undulating sand dunes with more than 500 oil trees and star trees. Ao Ba Om scenic relic was formed by natural processes combined with human labor. Among them, there are many ancient trees with roots protruding above the ground, creating strange shapes, this is a unique feature, rarely found anywhere else.
The customs, practices and festivals of the Khmer people are closely linked to the production life, family, community and social activities; closely linked to the ethics, lifestyle and wishes of people in life. The Khmer people in Tra Vinh have 11 traditional festivals, including: New Year's Festival (Pithi Chol Chnam Thmay), Ancestor Worship Festival (Pi thi Sen Don ta), Moon Worship Festival or Flat Rice Offering (Ok Om Bok), Neak Ta Worship Festival, Kathina Festival (offering robes), Entering Summer Holiday, Leaving Summer Holiday, Main Hall Boundary Ceremony, Buddha Statue Installation Ceremony, Rice Ball Placing Ceremony and Buddha's Birthday and 7 traditional art forms.
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| The dance club of Ba Tay C hamlet, Tap Son commune (Tra Cu district, Tra Vinh province) performed to celebrate the Kathina Festival of the Khmer people. (Photo: Phuong Nghi) |
Tra Vinh has many diverse types of tourism, in which cultural tourism associated with spiritual tourism is a prominent feature, different from other provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region. In particular, the culture of the Khmer ethnic group is assessed to have great potential for developing diverse types of distinct tourism products.
Mr. Le Hoang Son, Director of Dat Chin Rong Tourism Company, said: “Tra Vinh is exploiting the culture of ethnic communities. This is a very different product compared to other localities in the region. Tra Vinh has Khmer pagodas but not many pagodas are exploited to serve tourism development. Therefore, the province should support and guide pagodas to build more types of services and cultural and artistic activities typical of the Khmer people so that the pagodas become a tourism product with a unique color of the province.”
Promoting cultural identity values
After more than 2 years of implementing Project 6 under the National Target Program 1719, Tra Vinh has provided important resources and added motivation to the work of preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values of the people associated with tourism development.
Mr. Thach Mu Ni, Deputy Head of the Ethnic Minorities Committee of Tra Vinh province, said: “Currently, Tra Vinh has 30 cultural and sports institutions invested in; 1 intangible cultural work and 1 festival restored and preserved; 1 traditional village serving tourism development; 1 traditional cultural model built, a folk cultural activity club established; 1 typical tourist destination in ethnic minority and mountainous areas built. In addition, there are 112 pentatonic orchestra teams, 95 Chhay dam drum teams, 35 dragon and monkey dance teams, over 100 modern music teams, 40 volleyball teams, 8 Ngo boat teams; 1 newspaper and 2 magazines published in Khmer; 1 radio program and 1 Khmer television program; 1 Khmer art troupe Anh Binh Minh... basically meeting the cultural and sports enjoyment needs of the people and tourists every time they come to Tra Vinh”.
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| To celebrate the Ok Om Bok Festival 2023, Tra Vinh organizes a national costume performance contest. (Photo: Phuong Nghi) |
At the same time, Khmer mass art festivals, national costume competitions, performances, etc. are also held regularly. The Khmer Ethnic Culture Museum has collected, systematized, and displayed over 1,000 artifacts that clearly demonstrate the culture, production labor, spiritual beliefs, and customs of the Khmer people.
To date, the Khmer people have 3 national intangible cultural heritages: Cham Rieng Cha Pay Art, Ok Om Bok Festival and Robam Art; 42 Khmer pagodas have been recognized as provincial-level historical and cultural revolutionary relics and national-level historical and cultural architectural relics. Khmer pagodas always pay attention to maintaining ancient architecture, protecting and preserving typical cultural heritages.
Mr. Duong Hoang Sum, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tra Vinh said: "The province has always paid attention to the preservation and maintenance of national cultural identity associated with tourism development. Through the implementation of support policies, projects, investment guidance documents, and relic restoration, the relic has become a typical destination for Tra Vinh tourism. After more than 2 years of implementing Project 6 under the National Target Program 1719, with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tra Vinh as the project owner, with a career capital of more than 18.5 billion VND; Project 9 investing in the development of ethnic minority groups with very few people and ethnic groups with many difficulties, with the Department of Ethnic Minorities as the project owner, with a career capital of more than 2.3 billion VND. The two units are determined to deploy the implementation steps, and it is estimated that the disbursement by December 31, 2023 will reach 100% of the assigned plan".
Not only effectively implementing ethnic policies, in the work of preserving and promoting traditional cultural values, Tra Vinh also associates with creating livelihoods for ethnic minorities through conservation projects associated with tourism development, tourist services, and improving income sources for ethnic minorities.
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