Officials of HCM City agencies said yesterday that they would review programmes that promote and preserve traditional cultural values with an aim of making them more efficient and relevant.

The HCM City Tai Tu Music Festival was organised by the city’s Cultural Centre in May, attracting more than 300 artisans and singers from 24 amateur clubs from city districts. 

Speaking at a conference held in the city, the deputy director of the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vo Trong Nam, said: “The city is facing many challenges to maintain traditional arts in modern life, especially nurturing children’s love for cultural activities.”

Luong Thi Toi, of the city’s Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said: “Sound policies and human resources play important roles in implementing our programme to preserve traditional values.”

The demand for entertainment from students, officials, and older people in both rural and urban areas is quite high, she said, adding that more research must be done.

“Traditional and cultural arts have to catch up with modern trends and adapt to the demands of the people,” an official from the city’s Department of Health said.

Experts at the meeting said the city should seek support from private sector. 

A representative from the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said the department had organised many successful programmes and tours to introduce visitors to Viet Nam’s culture and the city’s cultural activities.

“It is necessary to do more publicity to introduce art performances and traditional and cultural activities available in the city,” he said, adding that the city’s permanent programmes for promoting traditional values should also receive more attention.

An official from the Department of Education and Training said most schools in the city offered folk games and traditional musical accessories to help young generations approach traditional values.

Nam recommended that the Department of Education and Training ask schools and educational agencies to open more training classes and organise outdoor activities and performances in traditional arts for their students.

In addition, improving communication activities, catching up to social trends and meeting the demand of young people for entertainment are also necessary.

The department said it encourages private resources to promote traditional values and cultural activities in the city, he said.

Tran Thanh Binh, deputy director of the city’s Cultural Centre, said the city had organised several activities to carry out programmes promoting traditional culture.

Many artists, singers and agencies in the city had made great efforts to organise traditional and cultural activities this year, including a folk games’ festival, which attracted 5,000 people, and the HCM City Tai Tu Music Festival in May.

Also, the second national Don ca tai tu (southern folk music) Festival was held in April in Binh Duong Province. 

VNS