Across local villages and residential clusters, community arts and cultural activities have long served as an essential source of spiritual support. After working hours, residents gather at community houses to practice xòe dance, sing folk songs, or perform on the traditional tính lute. These simple, familiar activities bring joy, strengthen bonds, and enrich the cultural identity of each locality.

To sustain the vitality of grassroots arts, the role of cultural “core groups” is crucial. Recognizing this, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has organized multiple training courses to improve the skills of cultural-social officers, Youth Union members, Women’s Union members, folk artisans, and local art teams. The training focuses on practical methods that help performance groups gradually improve the quality of their shows.

According to Lù Văn Hương from Bắc village, Mường Lay ward, art teams previously relied mostly on experience. “After joining the training, we learned systematic methods. Each session taught us how to build programs, link performances smoothly, and make them more engaging”, he shared.

Alongside strengthening personnel capacity, many localities have revitalized community activities through diverse initiatives such as cultural festivals, revived traditional ceremonies, inter-village art exchanges, and maintaining clubs for then singing, tính lute performance, xòe dance, and khèn dance. These platforms create more space for creativity, help preserve cultural beauty, and inspire younger generations.

In Pú Súa village of Mường Ảng commune, weekly cultural gatherings attract large numbers of residents. At the community house, elder artisans teach young people how to play the khèn, jaw-harp, and practice traditional folk melodies. These humble activities create a steady cultural rhythm. “For us, joining these sessions is a familiar joy. The more we participate, the more we understand and cherish our cultural heritage”, said Hậu A Tú of Pú Súa village.

As the lead unit in organizing grassroots cultural activities, the provincial Center for Culture and Cinema has continually sought new approaches to bring culture closer to the people. In addition to regular performances, the Center has expanded mobile propaganda, outdoor film screenings, and art exchanges in villages, creating lively and engaging cultural spaces. Since early this year, it has held nearly 100 direct community events and hundreds of mobile performances combined with public information campaigns, enriching residents’ spiritual life and delivering information in a natural, accessible way.

According to Phạm Thị Tuyết Mai, Deputy Director of the provincial Center for Culture and Cinema, delivering messages, policies, and social knowledge through folk songs, comedic skits, or film screenings is an effective way to connect culture with daily life. “When received in a relaxed and lively atmosphere, people tend to remember and engage more. For highland communities, this approach has proven particularly effective”, she noted.

Thanks to these flexible methods, cultural gatherings and mobile film screenings in many areas have become highly anticipated events. Traditional dances, folk songs, and relatable skits not only entertain but also educate, strengthen community ties, and deepen cultural appreciation. Culture, therefore, is no longer just a slogan of “bringing it to the grassroots” but has genuinely become embedded in daily life, shaping mindsets, habits, and community behavior.

Nguyễn Thị Thanh Chuyên, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, emphasized that culture plays a pivotal role in the new rural development process. When civilized lifestyles are reinforced and cultural identity is preserved, communities gain motivation to improve livelihoods, build greener and cleaner living environments, and transform rural landscapes. A rich cultural life also encourages residents to work harder and contribute to local development.

By applying a comprehensive range of measures and continually innovating activities, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is steadily advancing the goal of building a vibrant cultural life as the foundation for sustainable development. Recent programs have enriched the spiritual well-being of residents while strengthening public trust in the Party’s orientation and the State’s policies. Culture has truly become a bridge between authorities and the people, fostering unity and inspiring collective efforts in socio-economic development and in safeguarding national security.