Over the past four years since its establishment, the Women with Cultural Heritage Club under the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association has put forward many sound initiatives and practical activities contributing to honouring and popularising the value of Vietnamese cultural heritages in life.
Delegates at a ceremony celebrating the 4th founding anniversary of the Women's Club with Cultural Heritage.
A ceremony was recently held to mark the 4th anniversary of the club at the Vietnamese Women's Museum in Ha Noi.
A photo exhibition entitled ‘Heritage around us’ also opened to the public on the occasion.
The exhibition features the display of 42 photos taken by photographer Nguyen Thi Minh Hai over the past 5 years, featuring the beauty of tangible and intangible heritage across all regions of Vietnam.
Visitors to the event are invited to join a colourful heritage tourism journey, enjoying the love duet performances of Quan Ho singers in Bac Ninh Province, admiring the majestic natural scenery of Ha Long Bay, travelling to the Northwest mountainous region to immerse themselves in the bustling Xoe folk dances of the Thai ethnic people, experiencing traditional festivals in Thanh Hoa Province, exploring the preservation of sea turtles off the coast of Con Dao Archipelago in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, and watching blooming water lilies during the flood season in the Southwest region.
Visitors admiring photos on display at the ‘Heritage around us’ exhibition by photographer Nguyen Thi Minh Hai (Photo: icd.gov.vn)
With a great passion for the topic of heritage, photographer Minh Hai has made many field trips across the country to capture the beauty of Vietnam's heritage. She has hosted many exhibitions to stress the importance of the integration between heritage preservation and sustainable tourism development.
She is also an active member of the Women's Cultural Heritage Club.
The club was officially launched in June 2020, with the goal of promoting the role of women in protecting Vietnam's cultural heritage.
The club has attracted more than 100 members of many ages, places of residence, and professional backgrounds, including artists, businessmen, teachers, and managers.
Dr. Dang Thi Bich Lien, former Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is the chairwoman of the club. Prominent among the club’s members include Professor, Dr. Tu Thi Loan from the National Institute of Culture and Arts, artisan Le Thi Thiet from Vietnam Culinary Culture Association, and record holder Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam from the Vietnam Ao Dai Heritage Club.
The club’s operation focuses on fostering heritage tourism, heritage education and communication, heritage collection and preservation, and the protection and development of traditional crafts and performing arts, while raising public awareness and increasing the sharing of experiences in the safeguarding of cultural heritage in domestic and international forums.
The club has successfully organised many cultural events and activities, including an Ao Dai show and painting exhibition themed ‘Lotus Concept’ at the Temple of Literature in Ha Noi in June 2020, a programme entitled ‘Women with Vietnamese culinary cultural heritage’ in October 2020, a seminar on the life and career of female general Nguyen Thi Dinh and the presentation of a portrait of Nguyen Thi Dinh made from lotus leaves to the Vietnamese Women's Museum in August 2023.
The club’s members have also made trips to donate books to Phu Tho Provincial Study Encouragement Association in March 2021, presented a bronze drum to Alfred Nobel High School in Ha Noi in February 2022, and visited the special national historical relic site of Hai Ba Trung Temple in Ha Noi in October 2022.
Dang Thi Bich Lien, Chairwoman of the Women's Cultural Heritage Club, recalled that the club was founded in a context of many difficulties due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession; however, it has attracted enthusiastic response and participation of women from different backgrounds.
With meaningful activities, the club has worked side by side with functional agencies on the path of protecting and promoting the value of Vietnamese cultural heritage.
Through a series of seminars, exhibitions, and volunteer activities, the club has established itself as a common home for women with a shared love for Vietnamese heritage.
At the ceremony, Associate Professor, Dr. Do Van Tru, Chairman of the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association, awarded certificates of merit to the club and 17 of its members who have made significant contributions to safeguarding and uphold the value of Vietnamese cultural heritage.
On the occasion, the club’s chairwoman Dang Thi Bich Lien launched an emulation campaign calling for initiatives and activities to spread the club’s influence and affirm the role of Vietnamese women in preserving and promoting heritage values.
Hai Lam - Translated by NDO