In March, we visited U Va village, Noong Luống commune (Điện Biên district, Điện Biên province), where local people were actively preparing for the live performance show “The Legend of U Va” as part of the 2025 Ban (Bauhinia) Flower Festival. At the U Va village’s cultural house, colorful flags and flowers blended with the radiant Ban blossoms alongside traditional stilt houses. In the cultural house’s courtyard, villagers and performers eagerly rehearsed, their faces beaming as they gracefully practiced each song and dance.

According to U Va village head Vì Thứ Trưởng, we took a tour around the village’s cultural house area. Covering more than 600m², with a 120m² stilt house and a sports ground, the U Va village’s cultural house is a source of pride for the locals - not only because of its spacious, well-maintained appearance and distinctive cultural features, but also because it was built through the collective effort of the villagers, clearly demonstrating their solidarity and shared commitment.

Trưởng shared that, in 2003, the State provided financial support to build the cultural house. Following the “State and people working together” principle, local villagers contributed working days, leveling the ground, transporting timber, and constructing the project. After over a month of construction, the cultural house was completed and put into use. Since then, the cultural house has become a gathering place for meetings and exchanges. The Party’s guidelines and State’s laws and policies, socio-economic development information, guidance on livestock farming, crop cultivation, pest control, natural disaster prevention, disease prevention, and environmental protection are regularly disseminated to people here.

The cultural house is also a venue for entertainment, cultural exchanges during festivals and holidays, and a spot for locals to engage in sports activities. Particularly, with the rich cultural identity of the local Thái ethnic group, U Va village’s cultural house has been chosen as the venue for the live performance show “The Legend of U Va,” one of the highlight activities of the annual Ban Flower Festival.

Every evening during the week, members of the cultural team in Residential Group 5, Noong Bua ward, Điện Biên Phủ city, gather at the cultural house. Though built many years ago, the cultural house of Residential Group 5 is well-maintained, meeting requirements in terms of space and equipment for cultural and artistic activities. Each afternoon, the cultural house becomes a meeting point for sports enthusiasts. Its airy space and fresh atmosphere offer a healthy, dynamic environment.

Trần Thị Tuyết, a resident of Residential Group 5 held that at the cultural house, they participate in sports activities such as playing shuttlecock volleyball, walking, or practicing traditional dances and folk songs. The cheerful, united atmosphere here makes them excited and happy. That is why they often gather here to do exercises, improve our health, and strengthen neighborly bonds.

At the cultural house of Púng Tôm village, Thanh Minh commune, Điện Biên Phủ city, we witnessed a rehearsal by local performers. The performances showcased the mountainous region’s distinctive cultural identity, reflecting the homeland and its people. Many villagers came to watch and enjoy the music, singing, and artistic performances by non-professional artists. Especially, the sound of tính tẩu (a traditional Thái string instrument) interwoven with the singing left us in awe of the unique cultural heritage of the Thái people.

Lò Văn Phát, Head of the Fatherland Front working group in Púng Tôm village, stressed that previously, the cultural house was built of wood and had deteriorated after many years, no longer ensuring proper conditions for cultural activities. Fortunately, in December 2024, the cultural house of Púng Tôm village was sponsored, constructed, and handed over by the Air Defense - Air Force Service. The cultural house features the distinctive stilt house architecture of the Thái ethnic group, with a total construction area of 198m² and a total floor area of 400m², and an investment of VNĐ 2 billion. It is now the venue for community meetings, dissemination of Party’s guidelines and State’s laws and policies, and cultural and artistic exchanges.

The newly built, spacious cultural house has uplifted the community spirit, reinforcing unity and collective efforts to build a model cultural village. Lò Thị Hoa, a resident of Púng Tôm village, underlined: “Having a new cultural house makes everyone very happy. It benefits all residents. In the mornings and evenings, people gather at the cultural house’s yard to play sports, while children run around and play. Every month, the local cultural team organizes vibrant performances of singing and dancing. During festivals and holidays, the cultural house becomes a hub of joyful community activities, helping us connect, encourage, and support one another to overcome difficulties.”

Currently, the province has nearly 900 cultural houses in villages, hamlets, and residential areas, accounting for 62%. Most of these cultural houses have effectively promoted their value and function in the cultural and spiritual life of the people, becoming indispensable venues for community cultural activities and playing a core role in building grassroots cultural life. They also serve as gathering places for villagers to participate in folk games and community events, strengthening neighborly ties and contributing to consolidating the great national unity bloc.