Implementing Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW on the development of Vietnam’s culture, many localities across the country have rolled out a range of measures to conserve and promote cultural heritage, integrating these efforts with tourism and economic growth.

Bringing Hat boi closer to the public

In Ho Chi Minh City, preserving and promoting hat boi are implemented to renew and approach the public, particularly younger generations.

Rather than limiting performances to traditional venues, the Ho Chi Minh City Hat boi Theatre and the artists have expanded their activities to public spaces such as Nguyen Van Binh book street, Nguyen Hue walking street, and shopping centres while strengthening their presence on digital platforms.

Hat boi performance by artists from Ho Chi Minh City Hat boi Theatre. (Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Hat boi Theatre)

Alongside bringing the art form closer to the public, performances have also been adjusted to different target groups. Historical excerpts are carefully selected, dialogue is made more accessible, and performances are combined with interactive and experiential activities to help audiences better understand the art of make-up, the significance of individual characters, and the language of hat boi.

The “School Theatre” programme has been maintained at numerous schools, with content tailored to different levels of education and incorporating historical figures and stories relevant to educational programmes. Through a combination of performances and hands-on activities, pupils and students are able to engage with traditional arts in a more direct way.

Ho Chi Minh City has identified traditional art forms such as hat boi, cai luong, and puppetry as areas requiring further investment and promotion so that they can become distinctive cultural products associated with tourism development. The combination of conservation, digital technology, and expanded performance spaces is expected to improve the effectiveness of heritage promotion.

Develop tourism from cultural identity and festivals

Not only big cities but also many other provinces across the country are also implementing conservation and promoting heritage values.

Tuyen Quang province is focusing on exploring its cultural values, landscapes, and community identities to develop tourism into an important economic sector.

Under a plan issued by the Tuyen Quang Provincial People’s Committee, the 12th Buckwheat Flower Festival 2026 with the theme of “Echoes of the Rocky Land” will open on the evening of November 6 at Youth Square, Dong Van commune.

In the framework of the festival, there will be many activities including the 2026 Vietnam-China International Trade Fair (Tuyen Quang); a space showcasing OCOP products and distinctive agricultural goods in Dong Van Ancient Town; the second “Spirit of Stone” rock music programme; traditional folk games; sport, culture, and artistic activities in communes within the UNESCO Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark.

To serve the festival better, the province is directing localities to proactively carry out assigned tasks, including around 400 hectares of buckwheat flowers to ensure they bloom at major tourist attractions in time for the opening ceremony.

Tuyen Quang is turning its cultural assets into resources for economic development. Since the beginning of 2026, the province has welcomed more than 2.093 million visitors, including over 406,000 international arrivals, generating more than 5.857 trillion VND in tourism spending.

Community tourism models in Lo Lo Chai, Lam Binh, and Hoang Su Phi have proven effective by combining cultural preservation with experiential tourism products. At the same time, the province has 357 OCOP products rated three stars or higher, helping increase the economic value from local culture.

In Lam Dong province, the recently held 2026 Phan Thiet Cau ngu Festival was one of the notable activities to preserve and promote cultural heritage while linking it with local tourism and economic development. Through traditional rituals and a series of cultural activities, the festival not only helps preserve the identity of fishing communities but also promotes the image of coastal culture and enhances the locality’s appeal to domestic and international visitors.

The sound and performance of the Mong’s khen in Tuyen Quang. (Photo: Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tuyen Quang)

The highlight of the festival will be the floating lantern ritual on the Ca Ty river with hundreds of lanterns released onto the water, carrying wishes for peace and prosperity, favourable weather, safe fishing voyages, and a bountiful fishing season.

Alongside the 2026 Cau ngu Festival, the province will also organize various cultural and artistic activities, folk games, exhibition spaces, and showcases of OCOP and other distinctive local products. These activities enrich the province’s tourism offerings and provide visitors with additional experiences, and creating opportunities to promote agricultural produce, local specialties, and cultural products.

Models of preserving and promoting cultural values in localities demonstrate the spirit of Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW being effectively translated. Through these efforts, culture is gradually becoming an internal resource that contributes to socio-economic development and strengthens the branding of localities.

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