The foundation for sustainable development

Start with culture

The viewpoint “To develop sustainably, we must start from culture” is being clearly concretized by the province. In which, building cultural institutions in ethnic minority areas has become a remarkable highlight, gradually spreading new vitality in the border areas and remote mountainous areas of the province.

Thanh Y Dao women embroider traditional costumes at the Dao Ethnic Culture Conservation Center in Bang Ca Commune (Ha Long City). *Photo: Pham Hoc*

From 2020 to present, the province has implemented a series of projects: Developing sustainable community tourism, focusing on ethnic minority, border and island areas; Preserving folk songs, folk dances and folk music of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development; Preserving, restoring and promoting ethnic sports; Managing and organizing festivals... These orientations demonstrate political determination in building a synchronous grassroots cultural institution, effectively serving the "dual goal": Preserving heritage and sustainable development.

Resolution No. 17-NQ/TU dated October 30, 2023 of the Provincial Party Committee continues to emphasize the requirement of "building and promoting cultural values and human strength of Quang Ninh to become an endogenous resource and a driving force for rapid and sustainable development". This is an important political basis, encouraging localities in the province to actively complete the system of cultural institutions from commune to village.

Not only a place to organize cultural and sports activities, the system of grassroots cultural institutions in the ethnic minority areas in Quang Ninh also plays a role in arousing national pride and preserving cultural identity. Thanks to these spaces, art and sports clubs and folk culture teams are maintained and widely developed.

With the goal of exploiting traditional cultural values to become a typical tourism product, Quang Ninh is piloting the construction of the model of "Ethnic minority villages associated with community tourism development" in 4 localities: Tay village in Ban Cau hamlet (Luc Hon, Binh Lieu), San Chi village in Luc Ngu hamlet (Huc Dong, Binh Lieu), Dao Thanh Y village in Po Hen hamlet (Hai Son, Mong Cai), San Diu village in Binh Dan commune (Van Don).

In these villages, the cultural institutions are not only meeting places, but also spaces for performing ethnic festivals, teaching folk songs, folk dances, languages, and traditional crafts. In particular, localities have completed detailed construction plans at a scale of 1/500, focusing on landscapes that are consistent with their identities, combining the criteria of a model new rural area. The role of the people as subjects is promoted, both preserving culture and directly providing tourism services.

Van Don district is a bright spot when it comes to encouraging the San Diu people to preserve their traditional rituals, costumes, and languages. Binh Lieu district promotes the promotion of the Tay people’s identity, creating unique cultural and tourism products, such as the Soong Co Festival, the Golden Season Festival, and San Chi women’s soccer. Mong Cai city supports the people of Po Hen village in developing accommodation, culinary, and experiential tourism services based on the Dao Thanh Y culture.

Create endogenous resources

As one of the leading localities in implementing Resolution No. 06-NQ/TU (dated May 17, 2021) of the Provincial Party Committee "On sustainable socio-economic development associated with ensuring national defense and security in communes, villages, and hamlets in ethnic minority, mountainous, border, and island areas for the period of 2021-2025, with a vision to 2030", Dam Ha district has taken systematic steps in building a system of cultural institutions from district to commune and hamlet. Up to now, 100% of the district's hamlets, villages, and neighborhoods have invested in cultural houses with relatively adequate equipment; 8/8 communes and towns have stadiums; entertainment venues, sports fields, private cultural houses, etc. are effectively exploited.

Tan Phu Village Cultural House (Tan Lap Commune, Dam Ha District) on the day of the Village Chief election (December 15, 2024). *Photo: Mai Tham (Contributor)*

Some typical works of the district have been and are being built and completed: Quang An Commune Cultural - Sports Center; District-level Ethnic Culture Center meeting standards; Stadium; Gymnasium; Ha Quang Voc Martyr Monument Park; District Central Square... These institutions not only serve the present but also have long-term symbolic significance, built in June 2024 on an area of nearly 30,000m², with a total investment of over 1 billion VND, creating a space for cultural activities, celebrating spring, organizing sports activities, contributing to improving spiritual life, strengthening the great solidarity of the people.

The district is actively mobilizing social investment in cultural institutions. There are currently 5 artificial turf football fields, swimming pools for swimming teaching and learning, and many community playgrounds effectively managed by the private sector. The work of planning, reviewing, and proposing support from the province to supplement the missing institutions is focused on, ensuring consistency.

Inauguration of the cultural and sports center of Quang An commune (Dam Ha district) in February 2025. *Photo: Thu Hien*

In addition to infrastructure construction, localities also promote propaganda, traditional education, organize cultural and sports movements, restore festivals, establish clubs... to create an environment where "each person is the subject of creating and preserving culture". Up to now, the province has 362 intangible cultural heritages; many of which are recognized as national heritages, such as: New Rice Celebration of the Tay people; The Sac Ceremony of the Dao Thanh Phan people; Dai Phan Festival of the San Diu people; Soong Co Festival of the San Chi people...

In particular, the Then heritage of the Tay people in Quang Ninh (along with 10 other provinces in the country) has been recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, affirming the eternal value of the culture of Vietnamese ethnic minorities in the flow of human civilization.

The rate of people participating in activities at cultural and sports centers reached 50%, and sports practice reached 40%, showing that cultural institutions are becoming the "heart" connecting the community, spreading a positive lifestyle and awareness of preserving identity.

With determination, flexibility and creativity in implementing Resolution No. 06-NQ/TU and major policies of the province, Quang Ninh has been reviving a rich cultural treasure in the highlands and ethnic minority areas. The cultural institutions built are not only places for community activities, but also a fulcrum for sustainable and civilized development - where national identity is preserved, continued and shines.

Women of Tien Lang commune (Tien Yen district) maintain hygiene and landscape of the commune cultural house. *Photo: Lan Anh*

In the coming time, localities in the province will continue to promote propaganda about the role of cultural institutions; strengthen inspection and supervision of the management and use of works; promote the effectiveness of cultural and sports institutions, gradually forming a healthy, safe and culturally rich living environment for ethnic minorities.

Quang Ninh is gradually building an advanced culture imbued with national identity, serving as a spiritual foundation for sustainable development of ethnic minority areas in the era of integration and digital transformation.

Hoai Minh

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/nen-tang-cho-phat-trien-ben-vung-3363575.html