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Impressive Digital Transformation of “Cultural Festivities” in Vietnam Wows Foreign Journalist

The dedication of festival organizers in Vietnam has led to significant advancements in event organization and preservation of culture, as observed by reporter Ayesha Mumtaz from BNN Breaking. Mumtaz believes that these efforts are crucial in ensuring the continued growth of Vietnam's cultural landscape in the digital era.

Administrator

21 February, 2024

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In a recent article titled “Vietnam’s Cultural Leap: Digitizing Traditional Festivals for Future Generations” on BNN Breaking, journalist Ayesha Mumtaz highlighted Vietnam’s efforts to preserve its festival heritage through digitalization.

Mumtaz mentioned a project aimed at transforming cultural festivities in Vietnam. This project, which will take place from 2021 to 2025, aims to meticulously catalog over 8,868 festivals across the country.

On August 3, 2023, Ninh Thi Thu Huong, Head of the Cultural Heritage Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Vietnam, unveiled an innovative initiative to revolutionize the management, preservation, and experience of traditional festivals. According to Huong, this project not only showcases Vietnam’s commitment to its cultural roots but also sets an example of how technology can be used to safeguard intangible heritage.

“By embracing the power of digital technology, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Vietnam aims to create a comprehensive database and an information portal, lehoi.com.vn, which will serve as a reliable source of festival information,” said Mumtaz.

Mumtaz believes that this initiative goes beyond preserving details in digital form. It will be a crucial step in ensuring that the essence of Vietnamese festivals is captured, protected, and passed down to future generations without distortion or commercialization.

The article also mentions significant improvements in festival management. Festivals such as the Dong Da Festival and the Hai Ba Trung Temple Festival in Hanoi have expanded in scale and duration, providing a more respectful, secure, and educational experience for both locals and tourists.

Featuring a record number of 2,024 drones, the show ‘Ruc Ro Thang Long’ (Resplendent Thang Long) illuminated the Ho Tay area in Hanoi on the night of February 9, 2024 (Photo: Vietnamnews.vn).

Mumtaz noted that one of Vietnam’s biggest challenges in digitizing traditional festivals is the lack of proper archival documents. Additionally, the commercialization of festivals has historically resulted in misinterpretations and alterations of traditional customs.

To address this issue, Ninh Thi Thu Huong introduced the Statement of Conduct (SoC) in conjunction with the digitization efforts. The SoC is designed to promote positive customs, gradually eliminate negative traditions, and enhance festival management and organization, thereby fostering a healthier cultural environment.

Digitizing traditional festivals not only professionalizes festival organization but also plays a pivotal role in educating the younger generation about their traditions and history. The article points out that ensuring the legacy of Vietnam’s festivals continues to thrive in the digital age is a challenging task. Nevertheless, Vietnam’s project to digitize festival data represents a forward-thinking approach to cultural preservation.

“This initiative exemplifies Vietnam’s dedication to preserving its cultural heritage and sets a path for other nations to follow in the digital era,” concludes Mumtaz.

Fanasy Nguyen Le