As soon as the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam) was founded, to protect and consolidate the revolution’s achievements, under the Party’s leadership, the provisional Government led by President Ho Chi Minh issued a series of decrees to manage and construct the country.
Notably, Decree No. 65, the first on cultural heritage preservation, was released on November 23, 1945. With regard to the preservation of the national cultural identities, he repeatedly stressed the importance of bringing into the nation’s characteristics. His consistent viewpoint is that the preservation and promotion of the national cultural identities must not be separated from socio-economic development. Following his teachings, people of all ethnic groups in Hoa Binh province, especially artisans, have worked hard to uphold and teach local cultural heritage to help with the national culture prevention and promotion.
Meritorious Artisan Ly Van Henh in Sung hamlet of Cao Son commune (Da Bac
district) teaches the Dao ethnic script to local residents.
To President Ho Chi Minh, preserving the national cultural identities is a
crucial task but the more important is to apply and develop those identities to
life, which is the best way to maintain the national culture. Following the
late leader’s thought, Meritorious Artisan Ly Van Henh in Sung hamlet of Cao
Son commune (Da Bac district) has spent his entire life researching,
preserving, and passing down the culture of the Dao ethnic group to other
people. With the desire to maintain the minority’s quintessence, the
75-year-old is still travelling far and wide to teach the script, language, and
culture of Dao people.
He said the Dao ethnic group boasts a rich culture, from their language,
script, costumes to customs and worship rituals. It is fact that like other
ethnic minorities, the culture of Dao people is facing risk of gradual
disintegration. He thought that one of the best way to uphold the group's
cultural identity is to teach the language and script to Dao children and
adults. A survey once showed that less than one-third of Dao residents in Da
Bac district were fluent in their ethnic group's language, which motivated him
to surmount all difficulties and his old age to continue his path to preserve
and promote the minority's cultural values.
Spending over 50 years studying the Dao culture, Henh not only has in-depth
understanding of the group's language, script, and culture but has also
collected a large number of old books about their folk knowledge, rituals, and
customs. He began teaching the Nom Dao script to his descendants in 1997. After
that, more and more residents in his neighbourhood and nearby areas came to
learn. In 2008, he sought the local administration's permission to teach the
script on a larger scale in Da Bac district. Free classes have been opened in
such communes as Toan Son, Tan Pheo, Doan Ket, and Vay Nua in Da Bac district,
and Kim Thuong of Tan Son district (Phu Tho province), attracting thousands of
learners.
In
addition, Henh has also played an active role in activities of the Centre for
the Sustainable Development of Mountainous Areas, helping preserve and
popularise the cultural identity of Dao people to people nationwide as well as
foreigners.
Thanks to his relentless efforts in cultural preservation and promotion, he was
granted the "Meritorious Artisan" title in the field of intangible
cultural heritage in 2019. In November 2024, he received a certificate of merit
from the Prime Minister for his outstanding achievements in studying and
following President Ho Chi Minh's ideology, moral example, and style.
Welcoming the delegation, Toan provided them with an overview of the province's labour and employment situation, emphasising that in recent years, the provincial Party Committee and authorities have paid significant attention to labour export, created favourable conditions and offered policy support to promote the sending of local workers abroad under contracts.
Mutual love and support is a long-standing tradition of Vietnam. In any circumstance, the Vietnamese people always uphold the traditional spirit of staying united and supporting one another to surmount difficulties and adversities. Continuing this fine tradition, in the face of the 1945 famine, President Ho Chi Minh initiated the "Rice jar to save the hungry” movement and took the lead in implementing this campaign by abstaining from one meal each week to save rice for those without food. His example of morality and affection for people has been and is being followed by residents across Hoa Binh province.
Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc chaired the 4th meeting of the Coordinating Council for the Northern Midland and Mountainous Region, held in Hoa Binh city, the northern province of Hoa Binh, on December 18.
A delegation of the provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, led by Nguyen Phi Long, alternate member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, on December 23 visited and presented gifts to Muong Riec Parish in My Thanh commune, Lac Son district, on the Christmas occasion.
A delegation of provincial officials, led by Nguyen Phi Long - alternate member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the provincial Party Committee - offered incense and flowers to President Ho Chi Minh at his statue at the Hoa Binh Hydropower Plant on the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944 – 2024) and the 35th anniversary of the National Defence Festival (December 22, 1989 – 2024).
A delegation of leaders from the Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee and Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Committee of Hoa Binh province led by Nguyen Van Toan, member of the provincial Party Committee’s Standing Board and Permanent Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, visited and extended Christmas greetings to the Bishop's Palace of the Diocese of Phat Diem in Ninh Binh province.
