The orientation set out by the Politburo in Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW dated January 7, 2026, was institutionalized by the National Assembly through Resolution No. 28/2026/QH16 on the development of Vietnamese culture, adopted on April 24, 2026. The new mechanisms and policies are expected to unlock resources for preserving and promoting cultural values in general, and the traditional identities of ethnic minority communities in particular.

This series, “Unlocking cultural resources in ethnic minority communities through new mechanisms,” explores emerging developments in preserving and promoting ethnic cultural identities - from efforts to safeguard cultural "identity cards" and revive endangered heritage to initiatives that bring traditional culture into contemporary life, transforming it into a resource for sustainable development in ethnic minority and mountainous regions.

Making culture a development asset

Before the National Assembly approved Resolution No. 28/2026/QH16, many lawmakers emphasized during parliamentary debates the urgent need to establish mechanisms capable of unlocking resources for preserving and promoting ethnic minority cultures.

According to delegate Hoang Ngoc Dinh of Tuyen Quang Province, ethnic cultural preservation is facing numerous challenges. Some minority languages are gradually falling out of use, traditional artisans are aging, and cultural transmission within communities lacks stable support mechanisms.

Delegate Dinh argued that comprehensive solutions are needed, particularly policies supporting the teaching, practice and transmission of traditional folk culture and performing arts to ensure continuity and effectiveness.

"Where cultural identity is preserved, tourism develops more sustainably. Where culture is protected and promoted within communities, unique appeal is created and livelihoods are generated for local people," Dinh said.

His assessment is supported by practical experience. Many villages in ethnic minority and mountainous areas have successfully addressed long-term poverty reduction by leveraging traditional cultural identity to develop tourism.

Lo Lo Chai Village in Lung Cu Commune, Tuyen Quang Province, is home to 120 households, most of them belonging to the Lo Lo ethnic group - one of nine ethnic groups identified as facing special difficulties during the 2026-2030 period.

According to Ma Doan Khanh, vice chairman of the Lung Cu Commune People's Committee, the community's distinctive cultural identity has become a valuable development asset that allows residents to build tourism-based businesses.

Households engaged in community-based tourism earn an average monthly income of US$615-770, a level many families in Vietnam's lowland areas have yet to achieve. Once a remote border village with a poverty rate exceeding 51% in 2018, Lo Lo Chai had reduced the number of poor households to just four by the end of 2025, along with four near-poor households.

"To preserve the sound of gongs, people must have full stomachs"

Alongside government support, ethnic minority communities themselves continue to play a crucial role in preserving and passing down traditional culture. In many communities, protecting ancestral heritage has become an integral part of collective identity.

The Co Lao people in Tan Tien Commune, Tuyen Quang Province, offer one example. For generations, villagers have carefully preserved an ancestral skirt handed down through 16 generations. The garment is displayed only on special occasions such as traditional ceremonies and funeral rites.

According to Min Pha Khay, a respected community leader in Ta Chai Village, preserving the skirt is not only a way to honor ancestors but also a means of sustaining embroidery traditions and passing on cultural techniques and values.

Like the Co Lao community, many ethnic minority groups continue to preserve traditional cultural practices through the dedication of artisans, respected elders, clan leaders and community figures.

Yet significant policy gaps remain.

During parliamentary discussions, delegate Duong Mac Kien of Cao Bang Province questioned how communities directly benefit from cultural preservation policies and what forms of support are available to artisans who hold valuable indigenous knowledge.

Delegate Y Bhen Kdoh of Dak Lak Province delivered a particularly memorable message: "To preserve the sound of gongs, people must first have full stomachs. Cultural preservation must begin with ensuring decent livelihoods for those who create and sustain culture."

He noted that many artisans remain deeply committed to preserving heritage but cannot devote themselves fully to the task because of economic hardship. Support policies, he argued, should go beyond financial allowances to include production resources and livelihood assistance tailored to local conditions.

Those concerns were reflected in Resolution No. 28/2026/QH16. The National Assembly resolved that provincial governments should allocate budget resources and mobilize social funding to support artisans and artists engaged in creating, practicing and teaching traditional culture and folk arts.

Even so, the resolution provides only a policy framework. Translating policy into meaningful outcomes will require careful design and effective implementation at the grassroots level.

Unlocking policy design and implementation capacity

In recent years, cultural preservation and promotion efforts have been supported through a range of programs and projects. Some cultural traditions once thought lost have not only been revived but are now being passed on to younger generations.

The Museum of Cultures of Vietnam's Ethnic Groups has been among the institutions achieving notable success in preserving and revitalizing ethnic heritage.

According to deputy director Nguyen Canh Phuong, the museum implemented 16 programs and projects between 2021 and 2025, helping revive numerous cultural treasures and spread awareness throughout society.

"For example, the Mong khene dance in Bang Thanh Commune, Thai Nguyen Province, has been enthusiastically embraced by all students at a local boarding school. That is the clearest evidence of the effectiveness of these programs," Phuong said.

Successful models for preserving and promoting ethnic cultural identity deserve further evaluation and replication. In Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW, the Politburo set a goal of restoring and safeguarding endangered intangible cultural heritage and traditional arts by 2030.

The cultural development vision outlined in Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW has now been translated into mechanisms and policies under Resolution No. 28/2026/QH16. Yet ensuring that heritage remains a living part of community life - rather than existing only in restoration projects or inventory records - will ultimately depend on the capacity to design and implement effective policies.

Only when communities are empowered to participate, artisans can earn a living from their cultural knowledge, and local people genuinely benefit from preservation efforts will traditional values continue to be passed down naturally from generation to generation.

At that point, the effort to "awaken" cultural heritage will extend beyond preserving the spirit of the past and become a new driver of development for ethnic minority and mountainous regions.

Sy Hao