Thai dance performance at the Provincial Museum.
Photo: PV

Changing the mindset of cultural management

With the view of cultural development, we must change our mindset from “doing culture” to “state management of culture”. Mr. Pham Hong Thu, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DOCST), said: The sector advises the Provincial People's Committee to develop plans, projects, mechanisms and policies on preserving and promoting cultural heritage, building cultural life at the grassroots level. These are also breakthrough highlights, creating a fundamental change in the quality of institutional development of the sector.

Moc Chau town cultural officers went to the base to inventory heritage.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism always focuses on human resource development. Every year, dozens of training courses on basic information, cultural preservation, tourism, and model arts are organized from the provincial to grassroots levels for thousands of participants. The staff of the department are regularly trained to improve their professional qualifications and update policies on cultural development, thereby improving the effectiveness of State leadership and management of culture.

Cultural workers in Son La play the role of “directors”, bringing culture into a special connection between ethnic communities. “Doing culture” is no longer simply propaganda and agitation. Now, cultural workers must also know how to manage professional work, so that culture can truly be the foundation for development in all areas of social life.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Sang, Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Muong La district, said: The district currently has 16 civil servants working in cultural and social affairs in communes and towns. The department always maintains close contact with commune cultural officers, regularly exchanges information, directs propaganda, deploys tasks, encourages the organization of cultural and sports activities...

Re-enactment of traditional Dao ethnic festival.
Photo: PV

In cultural preservation, grassroots cadres are an effective factor in supporting heritage inventory, information exploitation, especially in describing and restoring traditional festivals and rituals. In Quynh Nhai district, many traditional festivals are preserved and their values ​​are promoted, such as: Hair washing festival, Kin Pang Then festival of the White Thai people; Xe Pang A ritual of the Khang people; Pang A festival of the La Ha people...

Ms. Dieu Thi Nhat, Head of the Department of Culture and Information 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, attracting tourists to the countryside by the Da River. To make the festival more known, we have researched and discussed with artisans to restore more excerpts and perform them before the community.

Unique ethnic cuisine of Quynh Nhai district.
Photo: PV

Over the past years, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has inventoried and established 17 scientific records of intangible cultural heritage of 9 ethnic groups with 7 types. Up to now, the whole province has 16 intangible cultural heritages recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and included in the list of national intangible cultural heritages, of which, the art of Xoe Thai has 1 heritage recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

In the whole province, there are more than 2,000 mass art teams and more than 500 sports clubs maintaining activities, helping to promote grassroots movements, enriching spiritual life, arousing love and responsibility for preserving culture of the heritage holders themselves, contributing to building a civilized life and strengthening national unity.

Keep up with the development trend

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

Tourists experience the cultural life of the Mong people.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, Vice Chairwoman of Moc Chau Town People's Committee, informed: The town always determines to preserve and promote the cultural values ​​of ethnic groups associated with tourism; organize activities and events to promote Moc Chau culture and tourism to visitors.

Now, when coming to Son La, tourists are not only impressed with the land imbued with the cultural identity of many ethnic groups living together for a long time, but also the unique culinary culture that has been developed into OCOP specialty products, or souvenirs made of brocade and handicrafts that have also become attractive products for tourists. Destinations, resorts, especially homestays with the typical style of each ethnic group... are special highlights for the Son La tourism picture.

Mr. Trang A Chu, owner of A Chu homestay, shared: Right from the beginning, A Chu homestay has been oriented towards a style that preserves the unique cultural identity of the Mong people. From the architecture of the houses, construction materials, decoration, culinary services... all are imbued with Mong culture and are associated with modern amenities and facilities, meeting the accommodation needs of tourists and interesting experiences about the long-standing culture of the people.

A Chu homestay with Mong ethnic cultural space.
Photo: PV

In recent years, cultural development in Son La has gradually built the image of a land rich in tradition, with great potential and knowing how to seize opportunities to rise and develop. Cultural socialization activities have received attention, becoming an important factor, promoting economic and social development, improving people's lives.

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 Son La culture and people in the period of 2020-2025, with a vision to 2030 to meet the requirements of sustainable development". In particular, strengthening coordination to build digital heritage products, promoting the potential and value of heritage. At the same time, continuing to preserve heritage associated with developing unique, different and attractive tourism products.

Changing the mindset of “cultural management” is helping to change awareness and actions to develop culture in the right direction. The culture of Son La ethnic groups is preserved, maintained and promoted effectively, enriching life and being the driving force and common development goal of the province, especially developing Son La tourism in a green and sustainable direction.

According to: Son La Newspaper