HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội’s suburban district of Thanh Trì has been building new-style rural areas with modern socio-economic infrastructure, but at the same time, paying great attention to preserving and promoting traditional cultural values.

Located in the south of the capital, Thanh Trì is a sacred land with extraordinary people. The district also has a rich history, culture and revolutionary traditions.

Implementing Hà Nội Party Committee's programme on "Strengthening the effective implementation of the National Target Programme on building new-style rural areas in association with restructuring the agricultural sector and developing the rural economy, improving the farmers’ living quality and spiritual life in the period of 2021-25", Thanh Trì has acknowledged that the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values is one of the important and long-term tasks that directly links to the district’s socio-economic development.

Triều Khúc Village Festival in Thanh Trì District has been recognised as the National Intangible Cultural Heritage. — Photos courtesy of the Hà Nội Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

According to chairman of Thanh Trì District People's Committee Nguyễn Tiến Cường, the preservation and promotion the cultural traditions will create new values that present distinctive features of the district.

Therefore, the district has actively implemented the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values. Thanh Trì currently is a model locality of Hà Nội in relic restoration, promoting the traditional values of festivals and folk dances and other cultural activities.

The district has developed a project to support the restoration and promotion of ancient folk dances such as dragon dance, lion dance, sênh tiền dance, and flag dance. Among the ancient dances is bồng dance of Triều Khúc Village in Tân Triều Commune that originates more than 1,000 years.

Thanh Trì District has revived and promoted ancient and folk dances such as dragon dance, lion dance, sênh tiền dance, flag dance, contributing to preservation of the district’s traditional culture.

Vice president of Hà Nội Folk Arts Association, Giang Nguyên Thái, said the ancient folk dances of Thanh Trì have significant cultural and spiritual value for local people.

Aiming to promote traditional culture, Thanh Trì has also concentrated on preserving cultural values, especially the intangible cultural heritages. Currently, there are 50 intangible cultural heritages in the district including traditional festivals, traditional crafts and performing arts.

In addition, among 45 traditional festivals taking place in the district, the Triều Khúc Village Festival has been recognised as National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Other intangible cultural heritages include archaeological sites, religious monuments, unique performing art forms of ca trù (ceremonial singing), chèo (popular opera), and bồng dance.

Performers stage the dragon dance at the Ngọc Hồi Victory Monument in Thanh Trì District during the 234th celebration of the Ngọc Hồi Victory over the Qing invaders in 1789.

Every year, Thanh Trì organises several cultural activities and art programmes such as Festival of Ancient And Folk Dances, festival dedicating to folk songs of three regions North, Central and South, and the singing contest "Young Voices of Thanh Trì District.

Vice chairman of Thanh Trì District People's Committee Nguyễn Văn Hưng said that generations of local people have always concerned themselves with the importance of preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values, and with the building of cultural life in residential areas.

According to Nguyễn Văn Chí, Standing Deputy Chief of Staff of the Hà Nội’s Office of New Rural Development Programme Coordination, during the building of the new rural development, Thanh Trì is the perfect examples of a model locality in the capital city. The district has not only performed the socio-economic development, but also satisfied all requirements of sustainable development while preserving and promoting traditional cultural values.

Preservation and promotion of cultural values while developing new rural programme are both important goals and missions as culture is a solid foundation of society. Hà Nội has determined that the city’s new rural programme should have its own identity – a sustainable new rural area attaches closely with preservation and promotion of cultural values.

Thanh Trì has also developed projects on relic restorations and promote the values of traditional festivals and ancient dances in the area. The district will also promote further its distinctive cultural values to people across the country.

The article is published under the coordination of the Coordination Office of the New-Style Rural Development Programme in Hà Nội. — VNS