President attends Spring Festival across the country

Also attending were leaders of central ministries, departments, and agencies, Hanoi city, a number of localities, and a large number of people from 28 ethnic communities in 16 provinces representing ethnic groups and regions across the country.

Speaking at the Festival, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, the President sent his warmest sentiments and best wishes for the New Year to the delegates, compatriots attending the Festival and all compatriots of 54 ethnic groups.

The President affirmed that Vietnam is a beautiful country with a long-standing civilization, a heroic history and a culture rich in identity, unified in diversity. Through thousands of years of building and defending the country, 54 ethnic groups have created a unique and rich cultural treasure with good values, vividly demonstrating the process of living, working, building and protecting the country, depicting the character and beauty of the Vietnamese people.

The President emphasized that this is the pride and valuable asset of the nation, the source of endogenous strength, fostering the great national unity. It is also the force that attracts international friends, the soft power that contributes to raising the position and prestige of our country in the international arena.

The President was pleased to know that in recent times, the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism has had many effective and unique activities with hundreds of festivals and events organized, highlighting the beauty of Vietnamese culture, attracting domestic and foreign tourists to visit, experience culture, and community tourism, affirming the everlasting vitality of traditional cultural values ​​of the nation in development, exchange, integration and international cooperation.

In particular, the "Spring Colors in Every Region of the Country" Festival has become an annual activity, recreating, practicing, and honoring the cultural values ​​of ethnic groups; honoring artists, folk artisans, those who directly participate in the process of creating, preserving and transmitting cultural values. Through stage arts, performing arts with creative works, the love of life, the love of homeland and country is vividly and convincingly expressed, enriching the spiritual life, contributing to consolidating and strengthening solidarity, national pride, adding new energy and inspiration for good beginnings.

The President commended the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, localities and ethnic people over the past years for having many initiatives and efforts to maintain and develop the activities of the Vietnam Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village, joining hands to build a "common home of 54 ethnic groups" - a place to gather and unite ethnic groups, preserve, spread and promote the traditional cultural values ​​of the beloved country of Vietnam.

The President also highly appreciated the efforts of all levels, sectors, localities and ethnic people to preserve, restore, spread and honor cultural values; build new cultural spaces, create an environment for ethnic people to create, interact, learn and work together, encourage understanding and respect for each other's culture.

The President affirmed that our Party and State always pay attention to building the great national unity bloc - an important factor, a strong driving force, of key significance to the country's development, in which it focuses on preserving and promoting the values ​​and cultural identities of each ethnic group. Stating that culture is the spiritual foundation of society, a pillar in sustainable development, increasingly affirming its great role, achieving many important results, the President said that the material and spiritual cultural life of the people is constantly improving and enhancing. The role of the people in creating, practicing, transmitting and enjoying culture is increasingly valued, and the participation of the community in the cultural field is increasingly widespread.

The President requested all levels, sectors and localities to implement ethnic policies well, pay attention to preserving and promoting local cultural values ​​in conjunction with economic development and solving social issues. In particular, it is necessary to pay special attention to comprehensive development, focusing on developing the culture of ethnic minority areas, remote areas, border areas and islands.

In addition, all levels and sectors need to promote the role of the people, communities, ethnic groups, village elders, village chiefs, the elderly, artists and folk artisans. At the same time, create conditions for organizing activities to exploit and promote cultural values ​​right in the heart of the community - where culture is born, nurtured and developed.

Emphasizing the vitality of cultural values ​​that are opening up prospects for the development of cultural and tourism industries, the President suggested that all levels, sectors and cultural workers need to clearly recognize the richness and abundance of cultural resources, which increases economic development opportunities, creates prosperity for each country and nation, and is also a subtle way to touch the hearts of tourists and friends around the world.

The President hopes that in the coming time, there will continue to be many initiatives and creative ways to join hands in building a space for cultural exchange among Vietnamese ethnic groups, respecting and protecting the diverse expressions of culture, people, ethnic groups and regions.

The President believes that a joyful, harmonious and connected space created by diverse cultural communities is a solid foundation to promote exchange, understanding, harmony and mutual respect among ethnic groups, creating cohesion and fostering great national unity, contributing to cultivating Vietnamese culture, strength and values ​​- a strong internal resource for national development.

On this occasion, the President presented gifts to representatives of ethnic groups attending the "Spring Colors Festival across the country".

Next, attending the Rice Sowing Festival of the Bru - Van Kieu ethnic group, the President performed the seed planting ceremony with the village elders. This is considered the most important cultural activity in the religious life and community life of the Bru - Van Kieu, praying for the gods to preserve and protect the growth of seeds for a harvest with heavy grains and ears of rice.

In 2021, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a Decision to recognize the Rice Sowing Festival of the Bru - Van Kieu people as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Visiting the Thai ethnic village, the President attended the spring dance of the Thai ethnic group and other ethnic groups in the North. The Thai people believe that "No dance, no good rice, no rice, no barn". The dance is a symbol of love of the Thai people, from the love of hard-working life to love between couples. On every holiday, Tet or happy day of the clan, family, village... the dance is often held as a folk ritual to celebrate.

Representatives of ethnic groups also brought unique cultural products of their people to respectfully present to the President.