Supporting and honoring the heritage torch keepers

From September 2025, the artisans – who silently preserve and spread intangible cultural heritage day and night – will officially enjoy a series of practical support policies according to Decree 215/2025/ND-CP of the Government. This is considered a humane and timely step in the context of many types of heritage gradually fading away, lacking successors.

Phu Tho Xoan singing artists strive to preserve heritage in daily life. Photo: Nhat Truong.

Special joy for the artist

Decree 215/2025/ND-CP will officially take effect from September 17. This Decree has more practical adjustments, focusing on improving material and spiritual life, while creating conditions for artisans to teach, perform and promote culture.

For the first time, folk artisans and outstanding artisans in the field of intangible cultural heritage will receive monthly living allowances, have their health insurance fully paid for by the State, and support for funeral expenses upon their death.

The policy pays special attention to artisans who are ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, from poor households or living in remote, border and island areas - places with economic difficulties but rich in cultural identity.

Not only does it support livelihoods, the Decree also provides additional funding for heritage teaching activities, opening training classes for the next generation, as well as participating in performances and promoting heritage to the community. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, there are currently nearly 3,000 artisans nationwide who will benefit from this policy.

Meritorious Artist Pham Chi Khanh – who has spent more than half a century making traditional musical instruments – was moved to share that this support policy is “a very special joy”. For those who have quietly kept the profession all their lives like him, the attention from the State is not only material support, but also deep spiritual encouragement. “We do not expect anything great, just being recognized and supported, even though we are old, we still have more motivation to continue teaching, so that the younger generation can understand and love more what belongs to the origin,” he confided.

Happy and moved to learn about the new preferential policies expected to be applied from September 2025, Meritorious Artisan Nguyen Tan Phat (lacquer sculptor) shared: “With stable support, we will have more conditions to create, experiment with new techniques and at the same time preserve the original values of the profession. I believe that this policy will have a positive impact, especially in attracting young people. When the profession is respected and treated fairly, young people will have more confidence and motivation to learn and stick with it for a long time.”

New motivation to preserve and promote heritage values

Meritorious artisan Do Van Cuong - Chairman of the Thiet Ung Traditional Wood Craft Village Association, Hanoi said that many craft villages are currently fading away due to lack of timely support and recognition. Artisans do not have the conditions to maintain the craft, and the younger generation is not interested in continuing the profession. Therefore, issuing timely policies for the right people is not only an encouragement, but also a way to create motivation, spread love and pride for traditional crafts.

Talking to reporters of Dai Doan Ket Newspaper, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Ngoc Trung - former Head of the Department of Culture and Development (Academy of Journalism and Communication) said that the new Decree clearly shows the concern and care for artisans in a more specific, deeper and more comprehensive way. The new policies are a motivation for artisans to feel secure and excited to continue contributing.

“Not only that, this policy also encourages the next generation of artisans and future artisans to be more enthusiastic, giving them more spiritual strength to continue to contribute to be recognized; at the same time, attracting more new talents. In other words, this Decree is a new driving force to expand the scope of participation in preserving and promoting the intangible cultural values of the nation” - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Ngoc Trung emphasized.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/tiep-suc-va-ton-vinh-nguoi-giu-lua-di-san-10312766.html