On December 22, 2021, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Decision 3404/QD-BVHTTDL on approving the project "Preserving and promoting the values of folk songs, folk dances and folk music of ethnic minorities in association with tourism development in the 2021-2030 period". This is a practical activity to institutionalise the guidelines, policies and laws of the Party and State on ethnic affairs aiming to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of ethnic groups in the community.
Xoe Thai performance. (Photo: VNA)
Over the past years, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has coordinated with localities to research, collect, restore and popularise various types of performances of folk songs, folk dances and folk music of ethnic minorities; however, the risk of these forms disappearing and being lost is increasing.
Many traditional forms of performance of ethnic minorities have even disappeared in community life. The reason is that the artisans who hold knowledge about the values of these traditional art forms are old, while the young do not spend time or do not have enough passion and enthusiasm to study, learn, and preserve the cultural traditions left by their fathers.
In addition, the rapid urbanisation also causes the space for performing folk songs, folk dances and folk music of ethnic minorities to become narrowed. Folk songs and ancient dances of the people do not have many opportunities to reach listeners and viewers. The introduction of foreign culture in the process of urbanisation also causes the traditional values to be distorted and no longer clearly shows the national identity as it is.
Although there is great potential to exploit and promote traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities in general and folk songs, folk music and folk dance in particular, in recent years, the inclusion of these values in activities associated with tourism still has many shortcomings.
Many localities have not properly realised the value and potential of folk songs, folk dances and folk music, so they have not made effective use of this cultural resource in tourism products. Tourism products exploiting the value of folk songs, folk dances and folk music have not really created a highlight and distinct identity to invite domestic and international tourists.
The project on preserving and promoting the values of folk songs, folk dances and folk music of ethnic minorities in association with tourism development is divided into two phases: Phase 1, from 2021-2025, and Phase 2, from 2026- 2030.
The goal is that by 2030, up to 80% of the intangible cultural heritage related to folk songs, folk dances and folk music will be documented, preserved and disseminated to ethnic minority communities; at least 90% of civil servants, cultural officials, artisans and prestigious people have been trained to improve their capacity in the work of preserving traditional cultures of ethnic minorities; and there are 600 artisans of ethnic minorities who are interested in building a profile for conferring the title of People's Artisan, Excellent Artisan.
The project is expected to have a great impact on the development of cultural tourism, community tourism, ethnographic tourism, rural and mountainous tourism, so that the values of folk songs, folk dances, folk music traditions are effectively exploited, both to preserve and make an important contribution to promoting socio-economic development of each locality.
