Thai Xoe dance performance at the Provincial Museum.
Photo: PV

Changing the mindset in cultural management.

With the perspective that cultural development must shift from "doing cultural work" to "state management of culture," Mr. Pham Hong Thu, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated: The department advises the Provincial People's Committee on developing plans, projects, and policies on preserving and promoting cultural heritage and building cultural life at the grassroots level. These are also key breakthroughs, creating a fundamental qualitative shift in the institutional development of the sector.

Cultural officials from Moc Chau town are conducting fieldwork to inventory heritage sites.

The Culture, Sports and Tourism sector always prioritizes human resource development. Every year, dozens of training courses on grassroots information, cultural preservation, tourism, and exemplary arts are organized from the provincial to the grassroots level, attracting thousands of participants. The sector's staff regularly receive training to improve their professional skills and stay updated on policies and guidelines for cultural development, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of state leadership and management in the cultural sector.

Cultural workers in Son La play the role of "directors," integrating culture into the unique connections between ethnic communities. "Cultural work" is no longer simply about propaganda and promotion. Now, cultural workers must also know how to manage their professional work, so that culture truly becomes the foundation for the development of all aspects of social life.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Sang, Head of the Culture and Information Department of Muong La District, said: The district currently has 16 civil servants working in culture and social affairs in the communes and towns. The department maintains close contact with commune cultural officials, regularly exchanging information, providing guidance on propaganda, implementing tasks, and encouraging the organization of cultural and sports activities...

Reviving the traditional festival of the Dao ethnic group.
Photo: PV

In cultural preservation efforts, grassroots officials are invaluable in supporting heritage inventory, information gathering, and especially in surveying and reconstructing traditional festivals and rituals. In Quynh Nhai district, many traditional festivals have been preserved and their values ​​promoted, such as: the hair-washing festival and the Kin Pang Then festival of the White Thai people; the Xe Pang A ritual of the Khang people; the Pang A festival of the La Ha people...

Ms. Dieu Thi Nhat, Head of the Culture and Information Department of Quynh Nhai District, shared: "Excerpts from the festival are performed at the district's annual Culture, Sports and Tourism Week, creating a unique highlight that attracts tourists to the countryside along the Da River. To make the festival more widely known, we have researched and discussed with artisans to reconstruct more excerpts and perform them for the community."

The distinctive ethnic cuisine of Quynh Nhai district.
Photo: PV

Over the years, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has inventoried and compiled 17 scientific dossiers on intangible cultural heritage of 9 ethnic groups with 7 types. To date, the entire province has 16 intangible cultural heritages recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and included in the national list of intangible cultural heritage, including Thai Xoe dance, which has one heritage item inscribed by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Throughout the province, there are more than 2,000 amateur performing arts groups and over 500 sports clubs that maintain their activities, helping to encourage grassroots movements, enrich spiritual life, awaken love and responsibility for cultural preservation among those who hold the heritage, and contribute to building a civilized life and strengthening national unity.

Keeping pace with development trends

The cultures of ethnic groups in Son La are being preserved and promoted, but to adapt to the general development trends of the times, traditional culture is being exploited, built, and developed into service products for tourism, especially traditional festivals and folk art forms.

Tourists experience the cultural life of the Hmong ethnic group.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Moc Chau town, informed: The town always prioritizes preserving and promoting the cultural values ​​of ethnic groups in conjunction with tourism; organizing activities and events to promote Moc Chau's culture and tourism to visitors.

Nowadays, when visiting Son La, tourists are not only impressed by the land rich in cultural identity of many ethnic groups living together for a long time, but also by its unique culinary culture, which has been developed into OCOP specialty products, as well as souvenirs made of brocade and handicrafts, which have become attractive products for tourists. Destinations, resorts, especially homestays with distinctive styles of each ethnic group... are special highlights of Son La's tourism landscape.

Mr. Trang A Chu, owner of A Chu homestay, shared: "From the very beginning, A Chu homestay has been oriented towards preserving the unique cultural identity of the Mong ethnic group. From the architecture of the houses, building materials, decoration, and food services... everything reflects Mong culture and is combined with modern amenities to meet the accommodation needs of tourists, along with interesting experiences of the long-standing culture of the people."

A Chu homestay offers a cultural space reflecting the Hmong ethnic group.
Photo: PV

In recent years, cultural development in Son La has gradually built an image of a land rich in tradition, with inherent potential and the ability to seize opportunities for growth and development. The socialization of culture has received attention and become an important factor in promoting economic and social development and improving the lives of the people.

Mr. Pham Hong Thu, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, added: The sector continues to implement the strategic goals of the Project "Building and developing the culture and people of Son La in the period 2020-2025, with a vision to 2030 to meet the requirements of sustainable development". This includes strengthening coordination in developing digital heritage products and promoting the potential and value of heritage. At the same time, it continues to preserve heritage in conjunction with developing unique, distinctive, and attractive tourism products.

The shift in mindset regarding "cultural management" is helping to change perceptions and actions, leading to the development of culture in the right direction. The cultures of the ethnic groups in Son La are being preserved, protected, and effectively promoted, enriching life and serving as a driving force and goal for the province's overall development, especially the development of Son La tourism in a green and sustainable direction.

Source: Son La Newspaper