The reception took place on the occasion of Vietnamese Ethnic Culture Day (April 19). Also attending were Comrade Pham Thi Thanh Tra, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister; members of the Party Central Committee, Party and State leaders, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, leaders of a number of ministries, departments, and central agencies.
Reporting at the reception, Comrade Lam Thi Phuong Thanh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that each ethnic group has its own cultural identity, creating unity in the diversity of Vietnamese culture. Up to now, the whole country has restored over 180 traditional festivals associated with tourism development; formed nearly 200 models of cultural preservation and experience associated with tourism development; built and maintained over 720 folk cultural clubs, and 5,760 traditional art troupes; implemented 50 programs to research, restore and preserve immaterial culture at risk of fading.
In particular, there are 351 intangible cultural heritages of ethnic minorities out of a total of 735 national intangible cultural heritages that have been included in the list by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Provinces and cities directly under the Central Government have organized over 100 cultural, sports, and tourism festivals for ethnic minorities; have built, renovated and supported equipment for 3,220 cultural houses - sports areas in villages and hamlets; developed tourist attractions; formed cultural spaces in villages, hamlets, and hamlets associated with building unique tourism products.
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lam Thi Phuong Thanh wishes to continue to receive the attention of Party and State leaders, the coordination of central ministries, branches, localities, the companionship of village elders, village chiefs, artisans, and prestigious people throughout the country so that the good cultural values of Vietnamese ethnic groups will continue to be preserved, promoted and spread strongly, contributing to building and developing the country quickly and sustainably in the new era.
At the reception, delegates shared their practical contributions to patriotic emulation movements, mobilized to preserve identity, promote good customs and habits, eliminate backward customs, build a new cultural life, build bright - green - clean - beautiful villages; participated in mediating conflicts at the grassroots level and ensuring security and order in border mountainous areas, being the "core" to consolidate and promote the great national unity bloc; pioneered in linking cultural preservation with economic development, especially community tourism development, contributing to creating livelihoods and improving people's lives.
In an atmosphere of deep solidarity, compatriotism and deep pride in Vietnamese cultural identity, at the reception, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his respect and deep gratitude for the persistent, silent but extremely great contributions of village elders, village chiefs, artisans, and typical prestigious people among ethnic minorities across the country - people who are preserving the roots of the nation, preserving the values that make up the identity, depth and sustainable strength of Vietnam.
General Secretary and President emphasized that preserving the culture of ethnic groups is not only preserving heritage, but also preserving the spiritual foundation of society, consolidating the great national unity bloc and creating internal strength for sustainable national development. In that foundation, village elders, village chiefs, artisans, and prestigious people play a particularly important role. Comrades, uncles, and brothers and sisters are not only people who preserve community memories, but also spiritual support, a place to gather faith, contributing to maintaining stability and cohesion from the grassroots level.
In recent years, under the leadership of the Party and State, the synchronous involvement of the entire political system, along with the efforts of localities and people, the work of preserving and promoting the cultural values of ethnic groups has achieved many important results, creating positive changes in both awareness and social life. Many localities have seen very practical and meaningful models and ways of doing things.
Besides the achieved results, the General Secretary and President clearly stated that it is necessary to frankly recognize that the cause of preserving and promoting the cultural values of ethnic groups is facing many new difficulties and challenges, with long-term issues that directly impact the foundation of the country's sustainable development.
For ethnic minority areas, the requirement is to harmoniously develop between improving life and preserving identity; between integration and cultural autonomy; it is necessary to especially value the role of the community - because the people themselves are the subjects of preserving, practicing and transmitting cultural values. Only when culture is nurtured from the self-awareness and pride of each person, can it exist and develop sustainably.
The General Secretary and President believes that comrades, village elders, village chiefs, artisans, and prestigious people will continue to promote their particularly important roles, contributing to preserving identity, consolidating the great unity bloc and creating a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the country.
The General Secretary and President wished artisans to continue to teach to younger generations, so that the language, folk tunes, and traditional crafts can be extended in today's life; it is necessary to pay attention to creating conditions for culture to be practiced in life, to have space to preserve and spread, so that each citizen, each community truly becomes the subject of the process of preserving and developing culture.
The General Secretary and President requested to jointly maintain the peace of the village, contributing to maintaining stability from the grassroots level. With prestige, with responsibility and with affection for the people, comrades, uncles, and brothers and sisters continue to set an example, mobilize people not to listen to wrong urging words, not to violate the law, not to let negative factors invade the community; keeping the village peaceful is also contributing to maintaining the general stability of the country; together innovate the way of thinking and working to develop the homeland and country sustainably; continue to mobilize people to promote the spirit of self-reliance, proactively rise up, develop family economy, eliminate outdated customs, and build a civilized life.
Cultural preservation needs to be closely linked to livelihood development, especially community tourism, so that people can both preserve their identity and increase their income, thereby creating long-term motivation for cultural preservation and promotion. Development is not only about having more new things, but also about preserving and promoting their inherent good values.
On this occasion, the General Secretary and President requested the Government, ministries, branches and local Party committees and authorities to continue to thoroughly grasp the Party's policy on cultural development in the new period; considering this as a key task, closely linked to the goals of rapid and sustainable development of the locality and the country.
The Government needs to focus on perfecting institutions and policies on culture in a synchronous and practical direction; prioritize resources for grassroots culture, especially in ethnic minority and mountainous areas; ensure that culture truly enters life and becomes a solid spiritual foundation of society.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism needs to proactively advise on strategic solutions; promote the preservation and promotion of heritage values; pay more attention to artisans and reputable people; and promote digital transformation so that cultural values can be spread more strongly in modern society.
Ministries, branches, and localities need to strengthen close coordination, linking cultural preservation with livelihood development and community tourism; promote the role of the people as the subjects in building a cultural life. Each locality needs to clearly recognize: preserving culture is preserving the roots of development; sustainable development must start from its own community; absorb opinions to have appropriate policies to preserve and promote national cultural traditions; pay more attention to village elders, village chiefs, artisans, and prestigious people - those who are dedicated to the work of preserving the culture of the nation.
With his prestige, experience and sense of responsibility, the General Secretary and President believes that comrades, uncles, and brothers and sisters will continue to be a solid support for the community; continue to ignite the fire for the young generation; continue to contribute to consolidating the great national unity bloc and maintaining stability right from the grassroots level.
In 2008, based on the proposal of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 1668/QD-TTg taking April 19 every year as "Vietnamese Ethnic Culture Day". In recent years, "Vietnamese Ethnic Culture Day" has truly become a major festival for ethnic minorities to meet, exchange, and immerse themselves in traditional festivals, in the unique cultural space of brotherly ethnic groups.
