Respect traditional cultural values

Vinh Phuc currently has 41 ethnic groups living together, mainly Kinh, San Diu, Nung, Dao, Cao Lan, Muong.

In the current period, with the emergence of more and more new art forms, many traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities are at risk of gradually being lost. This situation is not only reflected in festivals, music, costumes, and writing, but also in housing architecture, culinary culture, and traditional occupations.

Recognizing the importance of preserving and promoting the cultural identity of ethnic minorities in the area, in recent years, in parallel with poverty reduction programs, Vinh Phuc province has implemented many programs and activities in the cultural field, creating a new step of development in caring for the spiritual life of ethnic minorities.

It can be said that, among the many traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities in Vinh Phuc province, the Soong Co folk song of the San Diu ethnic group is known to many people. In the San Diu language, "Soong" means to sing, "Co" means to sing. This type of music has a history of birth and development closely associated with the cultural life, customs and practices of the community. Currently, Soong Co folk song has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Today, this unique art form is still being preserved and promoted by the San Diu ethnic community in Vinh Phuc province.

Mr. Le Dai Nam, Head of the Soong Co Club (in Dao Tru commune, Tam Dao, Vinh Phuc), shared that currently, the number of children who do not know San Diu language accounts for more than 60%, while only 1% know how to sing Soong Co.

To spread the beautiful values ​​of traditional culture, Soong Co Club, chaired by Mr. Nam, regularly organizes free classes for local children who love this art form. The classes are only held during the 3-month summer period, so as not to affect the children's learning process.

In an effort to bring this traditional art form closer to the public, Mr. Nam also wrote and composed many songs himself, then added music to make Soong Co more suitable to the tastes of today's audiences. Not only that, Mr. Nam translated many lyrics into Kinh, making the song a blend of San Diu and Kinh.

In addition, Mr. Nam built many access channels on digital platforms to spread the good values ​​of Soong Co folk songs to the community.

Along with the smooth Soong Co cashew dance of the San Diu people, the "Long Tong" (going to the fields) festival of the Cao Lan people in Vinh Phuc province has also been gradually restored and developed. The true owners of the festival are farmers who only wish for favorable weather, bountiful crops, abundant livestock and poultry, and healthy children. The festival is the beginning of a production cycle, so it reflects the desire for growth and development, and is also an opportunity for the villagers to join in fun, share experiences, and support each other in development. This is a unique festival of the Cao Lan people, not only imbued with spiritual elements, but also an element that unites the community.

Need the participation of the entire political system

To preserve and promote the traditional cultural values ​​of the San Diu ethnic group, Tam Dao district in particular and the province in general, the People's Committee of Vinh Phuc province has developed the Project "Preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values ​​of the San Diu ethnic group in Vinh Phuc province for the period 2022 - 2025, with a vision to 2030".

Based on the province's project, Tam Dao district focuses on prioritizing the exploitation and promotion of the values ​​of tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the San Diu ethnic group in socio-economic life associated with tourism and service development.

In particular, the work of preserving and promoting the value of Soong Co folk songs is focused on, so that this unique art form will soon be recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. In addition, the district promotes the restoration of some traditional houses and the restoration and promotion of the language, writing, costumes, cuisine, and folk games of the San Diu ethnic group.

In order to maximize the traditional values ​​of the San Diu ethnic group associated with the development of community tourism and the implementation of the province's project in phase 1 (2022 - 2025), Tam Dao district will build a model cultural village of the San Diu ethnic group in Tan Phu village, Dao Tru commune with a planned area of ​​about 48 hectares.

In addition, identifying people as one of the core factors to preserve and promote the good traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities, Tam Dao district always creates conditions to organize training courses, foster knowledge of tourism development, communication skills for the labor force serving community tourism at the Model Cultural Village Complex of the San Diu ethnic group in Dao Tru commune. Thereby, striving to create jobs for more than 1,000 workers, of which, there are more than 300 direct workers at the San Diu Ethnic Cultural Tourism Village of the commune. In phase 2 (2026 - 2030), Tam Dao district continues to develop and expand the Model Cultural Village of the San Diu ethnic group in Tan Phu village, Dao Tru commune according to practical needs.

With the goal of creating a space to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development, Vinh Phuc strives to have at least 60 villages built to meet the criteria of Model Cultural Villages issued by competent authorities by the end of 2030. Of which, by the end of 2025, 30 villages will be completed and by 2027, 60 villages will be completed with basic characteristics of spatial structure, landscape architecture preserved and renovated, harmoniously combining tradition and modernity.