VietNamNet Bridge – The sixth Viet Nam Heritage Day festival has begun at the Viet Nam Exhibition Centre for Culture and Arts on Hoa Lu Street in Ha Noi.

"The festival is being held with the aim to celebrate the country's rich past, respect the contribution of young people towards preserving cultural traditions and raising their awareness and responsibility to developing the national heritage," said Ha Noi Association of Literature and Arts president Do Thi Hao.

During the festival, visitors are enjoying calligraphy demonstrations and folk games, music and dances, plus an exhibition displaying 500 items dating from the Dong Son Culture (700-100BC) to the Nguyen dynasty (19th-20th century), as well as artefacts from the Thang Long Royal Citadel ruins and photos of the 82 stone doctoral steles at the Temple of Literature).

The cuisine and craft villages of Ha Noi are also being highlighted, including such crafts as embroidery, wood carvings, copper statues and rattan furniture. Artisans from the craft villages are performing rituals to pay tribute to their ancestors who established their village trades.

Researchers also participated in a workshop yesterday, Nov 23, to discuss the preservation of Ha Noi's tangible and intangible heritage, such as Duong Lam Village, Thang Long Royal Citadel, Thang Long folk dances, and traditional beliefs and festivals.

"To preseve the vestiges of these cultures, we need to improve the knowledge and techniques of the preservationists," said the director of the Thang Long - Ha Noi Citadel Preservation Centre, Nguyen Van Son. "Those who join in preservation must have professional skills, technique and responsibility for what they do."

The festival, which ends tomorrow, was co-organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ha Noi People's Committee, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Viet Nam Cultural Heritage Association.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News