Culture is the soul of each nation and region and cannot be measured by absolute numbers. Customs, traditional festivals, and folk games of each ethnic group have existed for thousands of years, being maintained and preserved, creating distinct and diverse cultural beauty. So, when administrative units are merged, with larger territorial boundaries, will these cultural values, festivals, and customs be preserved and maintained? In today's modern technology-driven society, the growing distance from traditional cultural values is putting pressure on efforts to preserve them.

From 63 provinces and cities, the country will merge into 34 provinces and cities, reducing the number of communes by 60-70%, leaving approximately 4,000 communes to build a two-level government system that is closer to the people, more efficient, and better serves the public. Điện Biên province has established a plan, soliciting public opinions regarding the review and merger of administrative units at the commune level. Over 83% of voters in the province have agreed with the plan to merge 129 communes, towns, and wards into 45 communes and wards (3 wards, 42 communes). The goal of the merger is to streamline the apparatus, improve efficiency, and effectiveness, which has been widely supported by the people. Along with the challenges of reassigning redundant staff, preserving and promoting the cultural values of each ethnic group and region is a significant challenge for Điện Biên, with its 19 ethnic communities.

At the National Cultural Conference in November 2021, the late General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng affirmed the important role of culture, stating, “Culture speaks to the identity of a nation; if culture is lost, the nation will be lost.” Culture is the essence of the nation. Each ethnic group has its distinct culture, festivals, and customs that contribute to the rich, diverse culture of Điện Biên, adding to the national cultural heritage.

To preserve traditional culture, several festivals in the province have been revived, such as the Hạn Khuống and Xên Bản of the Thái ethnic group, the Lao Water-Splashing Festival, the Mông Gầu Tào Festival, the Hà Nhì Rain Season Festival, and the Khơ Mú Seed-planting Festival. The diversity and distinctiveness of these cultural traditions are preserved through various revival activities, organized events, and their integration into the daily lives of the people. In addition to the 37 traditional festivals of different ethnic groups, Điện Biên is home to a system of recognized historical, cultural, architectural, and natural heritage sites, with intangible cultural heritage throughout the localities.

The province has 20 intangible cultural heritages listed in the national intangible cultural heritage list, including the Thái Xòe dance and the Tày, Nùng, Thái Then, which have been recognized as representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. The festivals and intangible cultural heritages create unique and appealing traditional cultural values of the 19 ethnic groups, and they are a potential resource for tourism development. The 2024 National Tourism Year - Điện Biên attracted over 1.85 million visitors to explore historical sites, scenic landscapes, and cultural heritage in the province. Therefore, the effort to preserve and protect culture not only retains the soul of the ethnic groups but also preserves the spiritual values of each community, preventing cultural erosion.

Expanding the administrative boundaries of communes will not diminish the cultural identity of the ethnic groups if we truly care and apply appropriate solutions. With larger spaces, culture can be planned, with resources mobilized for preservation, safeguarding, and revitalization. Traditional festivals, customs, and cultural practices can have wider spaces for display, attracting audiences and creating greater impact. Culture only fades away when we fail to consciously preserve and protect it. We need policies that support cultural development, creating conditions for traditional culture to adapt and thrive in the broader, modern space.

Merging administrative units is necessary for sustainable development, but it also presents an opportunity for localities to focus on preserving, protecting, and promoting traditional cultural values. When cultural preservation is prioritized during the process of merging administrative units, it opens the possibility of spreading cultural values more widely and developing culture in daily life. Researching, restoring, preserving, and promoting the cultural values of ethnic groups creates a healthy cultural environment for the community. Culture is also a resource for tourism development, contributing to making tourism a key economic sector for Điện Biên.