Suoi Ben is a remote village located about 40km away from Luong Son town, bordering Kim Boi district, with the majority of its households being Dao.
Phung Thi Thanh, who resides in Suoi Ben village, Lien Son commune, Luong Son district still preserves the traditional embroidery of Dao ethnic people.
A new cultural house was built in Suoi Ben village last year with funding from the National Target Programme for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas. Covering an area of 180 sq.m, the project had a total investment of 1.3 billion VND (about 52,900 USD). Of which, 1.1 billion VND came from the State budget and the rest was raised among the community through labour contribution.
Duong Tai Phu, secretary of the village’s party cell said the village is home to 70 households with a population of 300. The main source of income for local residents comes from forest and agricultural production. Previously, its cultural house was too small, so village meetings or community activities had to be held at the village chief’s house or those with larger houses. This inconvenience made it difficult to carry out many tasks, especially the dissemination of the policies and guidelines of the Party and the State, which require gathering people in one place.
Dinh Manh Dong, an official of the Ethnic Affairs Division of Luong Son district, said as a district that has been recognised as meeting new-style rural standards, Luong Son prioritises investment in the most disadvantaged villages. Suoi Ben villagers contributed workday to build a new cultural house, along with support from the State budget, he said, elaborated that it was put into use in November last year, creating favourable conditions for community activities.
Duong Tai Chinh, a local resident, said that since the cultural house was put into use, it has hosted numerous cultural and sports events, along with meetings and dissemination campaigns to raise legal awareness among ethnic minority people, thus contributing to strengthening community bond. It also serves as a playground for children in the village to organise recreation activities, he added.
The secretary of the village’s party cell said that thanks to the new cultural house, organisation of community activities has become more convenient, therefore fostering connection among residents and encouraging them to actively pursue socio-economic development and sustainable poverty reduction.
As part of Project 6 under the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in 2024, Lạc Sơn District, Hoa Binh province focuses on diverse and practical activities to promote the project's goal: "Preserving and promoting the beautiful traditional cultural values of ethnic groups in conjunction with tourism development."
After 3 years of implementing Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU, dated October 11, 2021 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values of Hoa Binh province's ethnic groups in the period of 2021 – 2025 with the orientation to 2030 (NQ04), it has mobilized the participation of the entire political system, the people from all walks of life and there have been positive changes. So far, out of the 10 targets of NQ04, 3 targets have been met and exceeded the plan set for 2025. Typically, 70% of the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of ethnic groups in the province is on the list of the national ICH items and they have been protected and restored, exceeding 20% of the proposed Resolution.
Great National Unity Day has been recently celebrated in Duong hamlet, Vay Nua commune, Da Bac district, in an atmosphere of warmth and community spirit. The event highlighted national identity and strengthened the bond of solidarity among residents.
On November 28, the People's Committee of Cao Phong district organized the Cultural and Sports Festival of Cao Phong district's ethnic groups in 2024.
