Lao Cai strives to preserve culture
The director of Lao Cai Province's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Tran Huu Son, spoke to Lao dong Cuoi tuan (Labour Weekend) newspaper about the preservation of cultural heritage.
Which cultural heritage are you trying to preserve in Lao Cai?
Lao Cai is diversified in culture with 13 ethnic groups. But this cultural heritage is at a crossroads with its integrety threatened by cross border exchanges and a past in which many of its festivals were abolished by local authorities which viewed them as superstitious. This attitude has been changed in recent years, but the damage was done. The festivals are among the cultural heritage most in need of preservation efforts. They combine the most quintessential traits of the high mountain cultures, mixing art, music, dance, and theatre.
How can you organise festivals in a modern manner but still maintain their traditional character?
Each district has its own festivals and they must be closely linked with modern life. Bao Thang District, for example, combines its festivals with forest protection and national unity. The horse-racing festival in Bac Ha District has been spread from one village to the whole district and the first prize increased from some jars of corn wine in the past to a VND10 million prize with business sponsors.
What do the locals benefit from preserving cultural heritage?
With a view to "turning heritage into property", we have organised a series of activities like restoring traditional craft villages to attract tourists, launching publicity campaigns to promote the specialities of each village, and organising performances of different ethnic groups. All have generated a remarkable sum of money for the locals, and some families even earn over VND100 million a year.
How about the preservation of local languages?
We have been able to collect 800 works to translate into other languages. Twenty-four volumes of bilingual poems and stories have already been published. A project designated to preserve ancient books and funded by the Ford Foundation has been underway for three years.
Lao Cai is rich in culture, but it is also a border area. What are the side effects of economic development on cultural preservation efforts?
There is a plan approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade to build up to 17 hydroelectric plants around Sa Pa. This would destroy the environment in the area. The number of tourists visiting Ban Den Village, for example, has dropped by two-thirds since a hydroelectric facility was built there. It has forced us to destroy forest and the natural landscape. The locals lost farmland and water resources. It's an unsustainable development. It is key to balance economic development with cultural preservation.
How has your department dealt with the negative side of tourism, like pollution and touts?
Ta Van Village, for example, has established a tourism association which has regulated pricing, so guides are not allowed to offer their own prices. We should also not blame the locals for soliciting tourists to buy brocade products because the problem is frequently guides who prevent tourists from buying products from these local vendors, taking tour groups to vendors who pay them a commission. Developing tourism must be in harmony with people's interests. The department is compiling a separate policy for tourism development in the province. By so doing, we hope to benefit the whole community. — VNS