The National Library of Vietnam on June 18 opened an exhibition on cultural products of China’s Nanjing city and a seminar on cultural traditions and the creative industry.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Kieu Thuy Nga, director of the
library, said Vietnam and China are close neighbours, sharing a long history of
cultural exchanges and cultural similarities.
She recalled that in November last year, on the occasion of Chinese President
Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam, the two countries signed a memorandum of
understanding on cooperation in cultural industry.
The exhibition and seminar are activities in realisation of the pact, she
added.
The exhibition featured 50 products bearing both traditional and modern
cultural traits of Nanjing, helping Vietnamese understand more about Chinese
cultural values.
Charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam Yin Hai Hong said China’s
cultural industry has thrived in recent year, with its total value contributing
4.5 percent to the national GDP in 2016.
In this field, Nanjing has done a good job in optimizing its rich cultural
heritage, Yin said, noting that a series of supporting policies have helped
stimulate cultural creativity in combination with traditional cultural values,
hence the establishment of many outstanding businesses in the field.
The exhibition and the seminar were said to create an opportunity for
Vietnamese and Chinese experts to discuss and exchange opinions in search of
new development path for the cultural industry.
Source: VNA
Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.
Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.
The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.
The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.
For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.
Muong calendar, known as sach doi, is an ancient folk knowledge system developed through observations of the movement of the pleiades star. This unique calendar consists of 12 bamboo sticks, each representing a lunar month. Specific days within each month are marked with distinct symbols, guiding locals in determining auspicious and inauspicious days for important activities.
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