Preservation of Central Highlands’ culture in spotlight

A workshop on culture and sustainable development in the Central Highlands was held in the southern central province of Phu Yen on November 11.

Participants emphasised the diverse and unique culture of the Central Highlands, such as the space of gong culture, costumes and festivals.

However, they noted that many unique cultural characteristics of the region are being undermined.

A number of researchers attributed this to the destruction of forests and the failure of schools to teach students about Central Highlands culture.

In addition, many residents of the Central Highlands have sold their gongs and looms, and restructured their modes of production due to economic hardship. This is having a detrimental impact on the culture.

Furthermore, demographic changes have also affected the Central Highlands culture, currently only 23.5 percent of the population are originally from the Central Highlands.

Workshop participants suggested authorised agencies adopt measures to preserve and develop the Central Highlands culture, protect and expand forests, and educate the younger generation on the region’s culture.

The Central Highlands region, which comprises the five provinces of Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Lam Dong, Gia Lai and Kon Tum, is home to stunning mythical landscapes and a significant population of diverse ethnic minorities and cultures.

In particular, the region’s space of gong culture was recognised as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2005.

Cultural Centre to lift Vietnam-Laos ties

The Vietnamese Cultural Centre in Laos on November 10 launched a training course for about 80 officials from Lao political, economic and cultural organizations.

The course has been aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation in culture, sports and tourism and help those attending better understand the land and people of Vietnam.

The centre has served as a bridge for cultural exchange between the people of Vietnam and Laos, which contributes to cultural diplomacy.

Regional and global documentary heritage promoted

An international conference to boost the country’s image in the field of documentary heritage, part of UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme, was held in Da Lat city in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on November 11.

The event, organised by the State Archives and Records Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs, drew the participation of over 100 representatives from heritage management organisations from all over the country and international lecturers specialised in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme.

The conference provided an opportunity for participants to interact with each other and access general information on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme, as well as learn how to preserve and enhance the value of documentary heritage to promote Vietnam’s image.

According to Dr Vu Thi Minh Huong, Director of the department, the managing agencies have implemented a number of campaigns to promote the country’s values of documentary heritage, including the doctoral steles in the Temple of Literature, and the woodblocks of the Nguyen dynasty, which were both recognised by UNESCO as documentary heritages.

She added that the department proposed including documentary heritage in the curriculum so students learn to respect the country’s culture.

Exhibition raises environmental issues through artworks

An exhibition themed ‘Journey to a Green Vietnam’ opened at the Vietnam Fine Arts University in Hanoi on November 10.

The exhibits, produced by young artists including Nguyen The Son, Na Son, Tran Tuan, and Phan Thao Nguyen, include photos, articles, video arts, documentary films. and installation works representing environmental problems in different regions across Vietnam.

The artworks were inspired by the artists’ field trips to the Central Highlands region, northwest and central regions, the Mekong River Delta provinces, Ha Long Bay, and Co To island in Quang Ninh province in 2011 and 2013.

Tran Tuan, one of the participating artists, brought to the exhibition an installation work featuring a communal house with a roof made of recycled cans.

The communal house is a typical cultural feature of Central Highlanders, whose life depends on forests and mountain ranges, Tuan said.

However, construction of hydroelectric plants has threatened villagers’ life and their houses can be flooded due to the hydropower reservoirs during heavy rain. The villagers have to adapt to the situation by modifying their houses in this way, Tuan revealed.

The exhibition is being held to help the artists share their experiences from their trips, while calling for joint efforts to protect the environment.

The display will run until November 16 at 42 Yet Kieu street, Hoan Kiem district.

Hanoi launches World Heritage contest

The Thang Long Imperial Citadel built in the 11th century. — Photo chinhphu.vn

A contest was launched in Hanoi last week to promote the values of the World Heritage sites in the capital city.

Hanoi has four World Heritage sites, namely Thang Long Imperial Citadel, 82 Stone Steles at the Temple of Literature, Giong Festival at Soc Temple and Phu Dong Temple, and ca tru (northern ceremonial singing).

Contestants should submit entries to express their knowledge of these four heritage sites and suggest solutions to protect and promote values of heritage in the community. The organizers highly encourage youth to join the contest.

Entries can be stories, documentaries, short films, and graphic content. Contestants are allowed to submit unlimited entries to the Hanoi Cultural Fund under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism at 47 Hang Dau Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi or email to disanvanhoahanoi@gmail.com until December 15.

The results will be announced on December 26 with one first prize for story category worth VND10 million, and one first prize for the category of documentaries/short films/graphic designs worth VND15 million.

The contest, which is organized by the Hanoi Cultural Fund under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is among the activities to mark the Vietnam Heritage Day (November 23) and the 15th anniversary of Hanoi being acknowledged as the city of peace from by UNESCO.

Orientations for contestants:

1. Thang Long Imperial Citadel: Detailed solutions to preserve and promote values of the heritage.

2. Eighty-two stone steles at the Temple of Literature: How to improve awareness of people in protecting the heritage.

3. Giong Festivals at Soc Temple and Phu Dong Temple: How to promote the festival and preserve the original values of the heritage.

4. Ca tru: How to enhance the role of ca tru in public life.

VNS/SGT/VOV/VNN