The Folk Culture Festival "From the culture of the Vam Co Dong River ( Tay Ninh ) to the culture of Vietnam's sea" was organized by Gia Binh Ward Youth Union in collaboration with Nguyen Trai High School Youth Union (Trang Bang town) in the joyful atmosphere of summer and Vietnam Sea and Islands Week.
The festival officially took place on June 22, 2025, but was kicked off on June 21 with experiential field trips. More than 50 union members, youths and delegates visited landmarks in Trang Bang such as the Town's Traditional House, the Temple of Mr. Dang Van Truoc, who dug the Trang Bang canal, the Ba - Ben Ghe Temple and especially the Ba Thuy Long Temple, the only place in Tay Ninh to worship Ba Thuy, the main deity, a spiritual symbol protecting people traveling on the Vam Co Dong River.
Not simply a trip, the trip opens up for young people an understanding of the origins, the spiritual life of the river residents, and the streams of memories associated with the development of agriculture, culture and beliefs of this land.
Among the attendees, many young people were able to discover their homeland for the first time through a new perspective. PN confided: “Visiting these places made me feel like I was in another place. If I hadn’t had this opportunity, I wouldn’t have known my homeland was so wonderful and something to be proud of.”
That simple but sincere sharing is also the common feeling of many young people who have "touched" traditional values not through books, but through images, rituals, objects and vivid experiences in the heart of the heritage space.
At the campus of Trang Bang Town Traditional House, near 29/4 Park, the atmosphere was extremely vibrant and bustling, many people came to experience cultural activities creating a colorful picture.
The exhibition space is elaborately and vividly arranged with images of Southern folk culture, photos of the homeland's islands, interspersed with traditional tools such as nets, bamboo poles, chisels, small boats, along with beautifully arranged books, newspapers, and research documents on local culture.
In addition, visitors can also enjoy delicious traditional dishes with rich flavors of the homeland such as tofu, mixed rice paper, etc. Under the cool shade of the trees, the culinary space becomes more relaxed and pleasant. Right next to it, the tank placed in front of the Traditional House stands out, not only as a historical symbol but also as a visual highlight, reminding of the resilient fighting tradition of this land.
Not only attracting local people and union members, the exhibition space also welcomes international visitors. The highlight is the image of Mr. Robert Turney, a tourist from England, engrossed in looking at the photos of Vietnam's sea and islands. He shared : "I also live near the sea so I love the sea. When I came here, I was really impressed with the way Vietnamese people preserve and honor the culture of the sea and islands."
When listening to a young person introduce the photo series taken by photographer Do Thanh Nhan during a business trip to Truong Sa archipelago, recording the floating and submerged islands, the daily life of the people and soldiers in the middle of the ocean, Mr. Turney could not hide his emotions: "I am very impressed with the resilient spirit of the Vietnamese people and soldiers in protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands. This is a truly profound love for the country."
The main part of the Folk Culture Festival took place at the Trang Bang Town Traditional House stage with the participation of leaders of the Youth Union, researchers, artists and a large number of union members and young people. The opening was the vọng cổ song "Dong song que em" sung by artists Linh The and Ngoc Linh, under the guitar playing of artisans Ut Doi and Doan Van Sang. Next was the song "Truong Sa - Khuc hat khach hung hung hung" performed by the author and musician Huynh Oanh. The artistic performances not only touched emotions but also strongly conveyed the message of love for the homeland and the sea and islands.
The most special part of the Festival was the discussion "From Vam Co Dong River culture to Vietnamese marine culture" with the participation of researcher Nguyen Thanh Loi, poet Tran Nha My, photographer Do Thanh Nhan, painter Dang Van Thuc and musician Huynh Oanh.
Researcher Nguyen Thanh Loi shared valuable findings from his field trips, from temple culture, the custom of worshipping Lady Thuy Long to the ritual of praying for peace, a form of belief for the safety of the people of the Southern river delta. He emphasized: “The Fatherland is every hamlet, every alley, every bridge and pond… the closest things in daily life, from which a deep patriotism is born.”
Poet Tran Nha My with the poem “The Land of Flower Souls” calmed the atmosphere of the hall. The work is a praise for the harmony between the two lands of Tay Ninh - Long An through the image of the Vam Co River, a symbol of connection, perseverance and aspiration for development. She also emotionally shared about her trip to Truong Sa: “I do not write about Truong Sa as a distant land, but as a very close and familiar part of my flesh and blood”.
The images and stories told by photographer Do Thanh Nhan and artist Dang Van Thuc moved many people. Especially the moment the photographer captured the image of a baby being held in the arms of a navy soldier, or the image of a paper crane wet in the rain at the memorial service for the martyrs of Gac Ma, left a deep impression in everyone's heart.
An indispensable highlight of the Festival is the folk performance, where the audience can witness the rituals of worshiping Lady Thuy Long and the ritual of sending off the evil spirits… The rhythmic movements and sacred sounds of drums and trumpets blend together to create a vivid picture of indigenous beliefs, where river culture and ocean culture meet.
The festival included a summary and award ceremony for a wall newspaper contest about Vietnam’s seas and islands for union members and young people. More than 30 teams submitted emotional works, although most of them had never set foot on Truong Sa.
Poet Tran Nha My, representative of the jury, said: “The sea and islands are both far and near, always in the heart of every Vietnamese person. Although we have not been there, through the paintings, the lines of poetry, and the tight composition, we feel the sincere and profound hearts of the children towards the Fatherland.” The awards were presented in a solemn atmosphere, encouraging the spirit of learning and patriotism among the youth.
The Folk Culture Festival is not just a simple experience program, but a journey connecting the present and tradition, between the mainland and the sea, between people and the national cultural heritage. From the familiar Vam Co Dong River to the sacred Truong Sa archipelago, the image of the Fatherland is vividly presented, close and full of pride in the soul of each participant, especially the young generation.
Elegant
Source: https://baotayninh.vn/hanh-trinh-tu-dong-song-que-den-bien-troi-to-quoc-a191786.html
Comment (0)