Implementing Project 6 in Lang Son: Doubling the benefits

Implementing Project 6 on “Conservation and promotion of the beautiful cultural values of ethnic minorities linked to tourism development” under the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas (Project 6) for the 2021-2025 period, Lang Son province is making efforts to restore, conserve and promote the traditional cultural values, gradually developing them into distinctive tourism products that attract visitors.

People visiting and purchasing traditional embroidery and weaving products at Hang Pinh Festival in 2023

Based on the objectives of Project 6, aiming to restore, conserve, promote the values of traditional culture, educate cultural officials, support cultural infrastructure and equipment for ethnic minority areas and mountainous regions to enhance cultural enjoyment for the local people associated with community tourism development, various levels and sectors in the province have implemented effective solutions. This has not only increased awareness and responsibility within the community for preserving and promoting the traditional cultural heritage of ethnic minorities but has also actively contributed to the development of tourism in the province.

Preserving traditional cultural values

Following the Guideline No. 677/HD-BVHTTDL dated March 5, 2022 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on the implementation of Project 6, the Provincial People’s Committee assigned the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to act as coordinating agency to work with relevant authorities to execute Project 6 of the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the 2021-2030 period.

Mr. Phan Van Hoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, stated that: “In compliance with the direction of Provincial People’s Committee, we have devised a plan to carry out the project, dividing it into multiple stages to promote the traditional costumes of ethnic minorities in the province with exemplary value. Additionally, targeted investments have been made to develop methods and measures for conserving the beautiful cultural heritage of various ethnic groups in conjunction with tourism development.

The implementation of Project 6 is divided into two phases, the first is one from 2021 to 2025 and the second is from 2026 to 2030. In the first phase, from 2022 to now, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in collaboration with functional sectors, authorities of districts, city and grassroots levels, as well as relevant organizations, has actively implemented various component sub-projects. These include preventing the degradation and restoring the historical site of Coc Muoi and Pac Lung – Ky Lang (national relic) in Tri Phuong commune, Trang Dinh district; researching the restoration, conservation and promotion of the intangible cultural heritage of Quan Lang folk singing of the Tay ethnic group in Bac Son district; conserving and promoting the cultural values of the traditional Hang Pinh Festival, linked to the revival of the ancient Ky Lua market; establishing a conservation model for traditional embroidery and weaving of the Nung Phan Slinh ethnic group (Nung Cum Cot) in Hoa Cu commune, Cao Loc district; organizing classes to teach Pao Dung singing of the Dao ethnic group and Then songs of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups in Huu Lung district.

Notably, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has directed the establishment of 12 community art clubs based on the model of folk cultural activities of ethnic communities in some communes in the province. In these clubs, people are taught about various folk cultural activities, practice to perform them and receive a support in costumes and equipment for cultural activities and performances with a total cost of about 1.2 billion VND. The active operation of these clubs has contributed to enriching cultural and folk activities in districts and city of the province.

The implementation of Project 6 not only contributes to the conservation of cultural heritage values but also enhances the awareness of ethnic minority communities, widely spreading its impact in the community. As a result, from 2022 until now, the people in the province have contributed over 12 billion VND, more than 7,000 labor days and donated nearly 5,000 square meters of land to construct cultural and artistic facilities. Thanks to these efforts, the province now has cultural houses in 1,666 out of 1,676 hamlets and residential areas, reaching 99.4%.

Currently, there are 139 ranked historical sites at all levels in the province; over 100 folk song and traditional cultural activity clubs, along with hundreds of art performance teams at grassroots level; 9 national intangible cultural heritages; 2 intangible cultural heritages recognized by UNESCO as representative of humanity. All of these contribute significantly to diversifying the tourism products of Lang Son.

 

Mrs. Ha Thi Trinh, Deputy Head of the Culture and Information Division of Cao Loc District, said: “Implementing Project 6, from 2022 to the present, the district has opened four classes teaching lion dance, traditional embroidery and weaving and Sli singing with over 100 participants. In addition, to create favorable conditions for clubs and art teams, Cao Loc District has focused on building cultural and sports facilities and purchasing equipment such as sound amplifiers and speakers. As a result, from 2022 to now, various agencies and units in the district have encouraged the opening of approximately 20 community cultural and art clubs, increasing the total number of such clubs in the district to over 50, with an average of 15-30 members per club. The activities of these clubs in communes and towns within Cao Loc District have been spreading widely, attracting enthusiastic participation of people from all walks of life.

Together with Cao Loc District, other districts and Lang Son city are actively implementing Project 6, achieving practical results. Specifically, 11 districts and city have formulated policies and provided support for 19 outstanding artisans and artists from ethnic minority groups, supported the activities of 140 traditional arts teams in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities and in mountainous regions, supported the Traditional Sports Day of ethnic minorities in Dinh Lap and Bac Son districts in 2023. Additionally, they have invested in 18 sets of equipment in communes inhabited by ethnic minorities.

It can be seen that these project activities have contributed to the restoration, conservation,and promotion of traditional cultural values, gradually creating momentum for tourism development. Heritage is a significant resource for tourism exploitation.

Creating momentum for tourism development

The implementation of Project 6 in the province is not only effective in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of ethnic groups but also creates new and appealing tourism products.

In 2023, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has supported various tourist destinations in districts such as Bac Son, Huu Lung, and Chi Lang, leading to the development of new tourism products, including cultural agriculture experiences in Bac Quynh (Bac Son), ecological agricultural tourism in Yen Thinh commune (Huu Lung), and historical-cultural, ecological experiential tourism. Consequently, this actively contributes to enhancing the awareness of tourism among the local population.

Mr. Vi Quang Trung, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Chi Lang District, mentioned that, along with strengthening the propaganda of Project 6 through various forms, Chi Lang District directed agencies, units, boards, sector and mass unions in the area to promote the exploitation of the cultural heritage value in association with tourism development. From 2022 to now, Chi Lang District has focused on developing and exploiting two main tourist routes including historical, cultural, spiritual tourism and historical, cultural, ecological experiential tourism. This has increased the appeal of local tourism products. In 2023, Chi Lang District welcomed nearly 360,000 tourists, an increase of over 10% compared to 2022.

A member of the folk cultural club of the Nung ethnic group in Tan Thanh commune, Cao Loc district performs a Then song with tinh lute at the debut ceremony

The attention and investment in preserving the ethnic cultural heritage have significantly contributed to the creation of unique tourism products, attracting visitors to Lang Son. Several cultural tourism models have been formed and effectively organized throughout the province, such as the renovation in the organization of Hang Pinh festival. Within the year, the Provincial Museum surveyed and created over 200 inventory forms related to the preservation and promotion of the Hang Pinh festival in several districts and Lang Son city. Additionally, they produced a scientific film about the Hang Pinh festival and organized the festival from September 26 to September 29, 2023, featuring various outstanding activities such as exchanging Sli and Then singing, lion dance and martial arts performances, theatrical acts, lay co game, attracting nearly 10,000 participants.

In addition to Hang Pinh festival, in 2023, a number of major cultural and tourism events, festival have been held and attracted a great number of people in the province and tourist from outside such as Peach Blossom Festival, Lang Son Provincial Cultural, Sports and Tourism Week, Lang Son Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion Conference 2023, Chi Lang Custard Apple Festival, Cultural Festival of ethnic groups in Chi Lang district, Cultural Festival of ethnic groups in Lang Son City, Bac Son Golden Rice Season Festival. These events have contributed to portraying the beauty of Lang Son’s land and people. Ms. Chu Thi Yen from Bac Giang city said: “I see that Lang Son’s tourism is increasingly thriving, the traditional cultural values of the previous generation are preserved and passed down with great respect. Participating in the Cultural Festival of ethnic groups in Lang Son city, I was impressed to see people of all ages dressed in traditional costumes, which was very eye-catching.”

The practical results from Project 6 have become a driving force for tourism development, contributing to local income generation, job creation, and socio-economic development. According to the statistics from the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, in 2023, Lang Son welcomed over 3.9 million visitors, up 11.9% compared to the same period in 2022, with tourism revenue estimated at over 3.1 trillion VND, a 49.3% increase from 2022.

These figures are evidence of the effectiveness of Project 6 implementation in the province, actively contributing to turning culture into a source of sustainable tourism development and transforming heritage into assets.