Quang Ninh preserves traditional cultural values

With over a decade of building new-style rural areas, Quang Ninh has successfully completed its development targets for the 2021-2025 period. The achievements of this initiative are reflected not only in improved material conditions and living standards, but also in the vibrant and enriched spiritual and cultural life of local communities, imbued with deep ethnic identity.

Quang Ninh has dedicated significant resources to preserving and promoting indigenous cultural values, building grassroots cultural infrastructure, and introducing traditional heritage to wider audiences. These efforts have effectively transformed cultural identity into a powerful force for local development.

Local authorities and organizations have proactively researched, collected, preserved, and revitalized the cultural heritage of ethnic minority groups. Notable examples include the restoration of dum singing in Cua Van fishing village, nha to performances, ceremonial dances at village communal houses, and traditional festivals such as the cap sac (coming-of-age) ceremony and the spring plowing festivals. Many traditional ethnic festivals have been successfully and authentically revived, showcasing the cultural richness of groups like the Dao, Tay, San Chi, and San Diu.

These festivals are often accompanied by traditional folk games, performing arts, costumes, indigenous knowledge in agriculture and fishing, and culinary practices that are still cherished in local villages. Ethnic sports such as stick pushing, boat racing, archery, crossbow shooting, and tug of war are now part of Quang Ninh’s official annual sports events.

The province has also allocated funding to support the construction of ethnic cultural villages such as those of the Tay and San Chi in Binh Lieu, and the Dao in Quang La, Tien Yen, and Mong Cai.

Public awareness campaigns have helped promote the preservation of traditional attire, farming tools, musical instruments, and other cultural items still in everyday use.

Quang Ninh regularly organizes vibrant festivals such as the Ethnic Culture and Sports Day, the Northeastern Ethnic Culture and Sports Festival, and the Quang Ninh Provincial Culture and Sports Festival. Events like San Chi women’s football matches in Binh Lieu, the "King of Chickens" competition and culinary festivals in Tien Yen, street food carnivals, and folk art parades offer diverse, captivating cultural experiences that underscore the province’s rich cultural identity.

The province is also home to nearly 20 traditional craft villages, representing a variety of trades. Many of these villages have been officially recognized for preserving traditional craftsmanship. The province supports their development to ensure that these cultural legacies are both preserved and adapted to modern market demands.

Thanks to these sustained efforts, Quang Ninh today boasts 637 tangible cultural heritages (such as pagodas, temples, shrines, and scenic spots) and 362 intangible cultural heritages (festivals, customs, folk practices), including over 100 local festivals. Of these, 76 have been inventoried and inscribed in the national heritage list, and 12 have been officially recognized as National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Notably, the Then ritual of the Tay people in Binh Lieu has been honored by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and the Yen Tu Complex has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

These heritage treasures represent an invaluable resource, offering immense potential for Quang Ninh to further enrich the material and spiritual lives of its people and fuel sustainable cultural and economic development.