Preserving cultural identity
Tourists visit the special national monument of Po Nagar Tower.
Khanh Hoa is home to 36 ethnic groups; Ninh Thuan is also the common home of 32 ethnic groups. Throughout history, people in the two localities have together created cultural values imbued with identity and rich in human values. Today, culture has become a priceless asset and a driving force, an indispensable element for sustainable development. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Linh - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ninh Thuan province (old), in recent years, the work of preserving and promoting the cultural values of ethnic groups in the locality has received due attention. Specifically, Ninh Thuan province (old) has upgraded and expanded the northern path of the Po Rome tower relic area; restored and embellished the Pi Nang Tac stone trap relic; renovating, upgrading, and repairing the fences of the Po Klong Garai tower relic, the Hoa Lai tower relic... In addition, some relics were restored from socialized sources such as the restoration of the entire Po Inư Nưgar temple. The exhibition and introduction activities at the Ninh Thuan Provincial Museum and the Po Klong Garai tower relic site are focused on. From 2021 to present, Ninh Thuan province has collected and restored over 300 artifacts related to Cham culture; digitized over 200 artifacts.
Demonstration of Cham pottery making techniques at the special national relic site of Po Nagar Tower.
According to Mr. Le Van Hoa - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Khanh Hoa province (old) has a full convergence of cultural values of mountains, forests, plains, seas and islands. The system of relics that have been listed and ranked has unique, typical and outstanding features in many aspects of culture, history, science, architecture, art and fine arts not only of the province but also of the whole country, such as: Hoa Diem archaeological site; Ponagar Tower relic site; Dien Khanh ancient citadel; Ba Vu mausoleum; Ninh Hoa palace; C235 ship memorial site; Alexandre Yersin memorial complex; Truong Sa archipelago sovereignty steles at Song Tu Tay island and Nam Yet island; Khanh Son lithophone collection... In Khanh Hoa province (old), there are many traditional folk festivals that are still held annually by the people, such as: Ky An festival at village communal houses; bird's nest festival; Cau Ngu festival; Ponagar Tower Festival; Raglai Grave-abandoning Ceremony. In addition, in people's lives, they still maintain and practice folk performing arts such as Hat Boi, Bai Choi singing, Ho Ba Trao singing, Raglai epic singing; performing traditional musical instruments such as lithophone, gong, ma la, chapi… Knowledge of exploiting and processing bird's nest and agarwood - typical products of Khanh Hoa province, has also been honored as national intangible cultural heritage. All tangible and intangible cultural heritages in Khanh Hoa province have received due attention and preservation.
Demonstration of brocade weaving of Cham people at the special national relic site of Po Nagar Tower.
Towards heritage roads
A Cham dignitary releases flower lanterns on the Cai River in Nha Trang.
The event of Khanh Hoa - Ninh Thuan coming together under a cultural perspective has opened up a new direction in the formation of heritage routes to explore the land and people of Khanh Hoa. Some suggestions from people in the culture and tourism industry can be mentioned as: Cham cultural heritage road; heritage journey associated with the custom of worshipping the Mother of the land and the belief of worshipping the Mother Goddess YA Na; exploring Raglai cultural heritage; experiencing the cultural space of the coastal village along the coastal route... With a space stretching from the north to the south from Dai Lanh sea to Ca Na, spreading from the East Sea to the border of the Central Highlands mountains and forests, it has opened up a lot of room for promoting the cultural values of Khanh Hoa province in the coming time in tourism activities. “It can be seen that both Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan provinces have previously paid attention to preserving traditional cultural values. The people of the two localities have a close relationship and cultural exchange with each other, which is most clearly demonstrated through the Po Nagar Tower Festival. Now, when the two provinces merge into one, it has opened up new opportunities and chances for promoting traditional cultural values in the local socio -economic life. In particular, we need to focus on exploiting and promoting the cultural values of the Cham, Raglai and other ethnic minorities,” said Mr. Le Van Hoa.
Raglai artisans in Vinh Hai perform traditional musical instruments.
The potential of tangible and intangible cultural heritages of Ninh Thuan such as: Kate Festival; New Year's rituals of the Cham people; New Rice Festival of the Raglai people; Bau Truc Pottery Village; My Nghiep Brocade Weaving Village; Po Klong Garai Tower; Pi Nang Tac Stone Traps...; especially the cultural heritage "Cham Pottery Art" has been listed by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection, not only the pride of the people of Panduranga but also has become famous tourist destinations and products. "Tourists, especially foreign visitors to the pottery village, are very excited to learn about the culture and people here and make their own favorite works. During the peak season, the cooperative welcomes about 1,000 visitors every day to visit and experience", said Mr. Phu Huu Minh Thuan - Director of Bau Truc Cham Pottery Cooperative.
Cham dance at Po Klong Garai Tower.
Cham people following Brahmanism in Kate festival.
As for Khanh Hoa (old), the Po Nagar Tower relic has been upgraded to a special national relic; the Po Nagar Tower festival has also been honored as a national intangible cultural heritage and is a famous tourist destination attracting thousands of visitors every day; the worship of Mother Goddess YA Na is also being built to submit to UNESCO to honor as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity; the Khanh Son lithophone of the Raglai people is a national treasure; the bird's nest craft, bird's nest festival, and agarwood craft have also been honored as national intangible cultural heritage... The characteristics and similarities in the cultural heritage of the two lands of Khanh Hoa - Ninh Thuan in the past are the potential and huge space to promote and exploit for the new Khanh Hoa province. The rich and diverse cultural space with great values is the resource to develop cultural tourism - a field of the cultural industry. This is even more favorable when the management agencies of the cultural and tourism sectors have also been merged to create a breakthrough momentum for the industry. From here, culture will truly be the driving force for the sustainable development of the province in the coming time.
Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/khanh-hoa-tao-suc-bat-phat-trien-cac-loai-hinh-du-lich-van-hoa-20250701150647534.htm
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