Preserving old values
For Nguyen Xuan Mai (22 years old, Bac Ninh), the love of national culture started from childhood memories in her homeland - the land of Kinh Bac rich in tradition.
From a young age, I was familiar with the image of "lien anh" and "lien chi" in ao tu than, quai thao hats and smooth Quan Ho melodies. Those things just naturally permeated me" - Mai said.
That love is nurtured by Xuan Mai in many ways such as: watching cultural programs on television, participating in activities related to Vietnamese costumes or directly participating in cultural projects and events. According to Mai, proactively learning and experiencing helps culture no longer be dry knowledge but become a lively part of life.
On holidays, Tet or important events, Le Hoang Yen (23 years old, Nghe An) often chooses to wear ao dai as a way to express national pride. Besides, in the process of studying Fine Arts, Hoang Yen also prioritizes exploiting topics about traditional costumes or ancient architecture in her works.
According to Yen, the attraction of national culture to young people today comes from the change in approach. Instead of just academic knowledge, now culture is transmitted through short videos, music or fashion, making it easier for young people to access and feel closer.
In the context of integration, finding identity is not only a need but also a way for young people to position themselves. In particular, the development of social networks has helped cultural values spread more strongly than ever, when images of Vietnamese costumes or folk art are invested meticulously, easily received and create a positive effect" - Yen said.
Touching culture through experiences
Not only stopping at receiving and expressing themselves, many young people also actively organize activities to spread national culture in the community.
As Deputy Head of the Folk Culture Club (FCU) - University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), Nguyen Thi Yen Nhi and members have implemented many meaningful programs. Among them, the talk show "Viet phục - Tinh hoa văn hóa ngàn đời từ tấm áo" is one of the typical activities, attracting the attention of a large number of students.
In addition, Yen Nhi also participated in organizing the "Open Puppetry Connecting the River" event, contributing to bringing puppetry art closer to young people; or supporting communication for the play "Thieu Phu Nam Xuong". These activities not only create a cultural experience space but also help young people touch traditional values directly.
According to Yen Nhi, for national culture to truly "live" in modern life, the important thing is not only in preserving it but also in how to bring culture closer to young people through practical experiences. When directly participating in activities such as trying on Vietnamese costumes, practicing traditional art or contributing to organizing cultural events, young people will have the opportunity to feel more clearly the depth and value of heritage.
From those experiences, culture is no longer a distant concept or only exists in books, but becomes a vivid part, attached to daily life. This is also a way for the young generation not only to receive but also to proactively preserve, create and spread national identity in a new spirit of both inheriting tradition and adapting to modern life.
