Điện Biên always evokes very distinct deep layers of emotion. It is the settling of history blended with the rhythm of life changing every day in the Northwestern region. In the place that created the victory “resounding across the five continents, shaking the globe,” culture not only permeates deep into memories but also spreads in today’s life, becoming a spiritual fulcrum and a motivation promoting development.

Reality shows that, for a mountainous, border province like Điện Biên, where the economic starting point is still low and material resources are not yet truly abundant, endogenous strength plays a specifically important role. That strength is formed from historical traditions, the cultural identity of ethnic groups, and the spirit of solidarity and will to overcome difficulties forged through many generations. Culture has contributed to creating the persistence and consensus of the people, helping Điện Biên step-by-step overcome difficulties and rise to develop.

Implementing the Cultural Development Strategy until 2030, in the 2021 - 2025 period, Điện Biên province has synchronously deployed many solutions to truly make culture the foundation of social life. Awareness of the position and role of culture has undergone clear changes. The viewpoint of considering culture as the spiritual foundation of society, the goal, and the motivation of development is step-by-step concretized in the socio-economic development programs and plans of the province.

Dissemination and dissemination of the Strategy have been deployed deeply and widely to all levels, sectors, and the people. When culture is placed in the right position, guidelines and policies enter life more favorably, social consensus is consolidated, and the people’s trust in the leadership of the Party and authorities at all levels is increasingly raised. This is the clear expression of the endogenous strength that culture brings.

In social life, that strength is demonstrated through building comprehensively developed Điện Biên people. Local history and culture education have been introduced into teaching at most general schools, contributing to fostering love for the homeland and national pride for the young generation. Literary and artistic activities continue to develop, with 200 to 300 works composed and published each year, vividly reflecting the life and people of Điện Biên in the renovation period.

The mass physical training and sports movement has developed widely, not only improving physical fitness but also contributing to training the will and spirit of solidarity in the community. On average each year, the rate of people practicing sports regularly increases by 0.8 to 1%, and the number of sports families increases by 0.5 to 0.6%. The spiritual life of the people is therefore increasingly improved, creating a healthy social foundation for sustainable development.

The movement “All people unite to build a cultural life” associated with building new rural areas and civilized urban areas continues to spread deeply and widely. The fact that 100% of villages, hamlets, and residential groups build and implement conventions and codes contributes to preserving fine customs and traditions and strengthening the spirit of self-management and self-awareness, consolidating the great unity bloc of ethnic groups.

Along with building a new cultural life, the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage values are focused on. From 2021 to now, the whole province has 8 relics ranked at the provincial level; many projects to preserve and embellish the Special National Monument Điện Biên Phủ Battlefield have been deployed. The museum and relic system currently stores over 20,000 original artifacts, becoming a valuable documentary source serving traditional education and tourism development.

Điện Biên currently has 22 intangible cultural heritages included in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage, of which the Art of Xòe Thái and practices of Then were inscribed by UNESCO. These heritages not only affirm the unique cultural value of Điện Biên but also open up opportunities to transform cultural values into development resources, especially in the fields of cultural tourism and community tourism.

Điện Biên is integrating with the whole country and reaching out to the world. In that context, culture is also a “soft bridge” helping Điện Biên expand exchange, cooperation, and promote the image of a land rich in identity, friendly and stable. That contributes to attracting investment, developing tourism, while consolidating the “people’s heart” posture, maintaining socio-political stability in the border region of the Fatherland.

Besides the achieved results, cultural development in the province still faces many difficulties and challenges. However, precisely in those conditions, the role of culture as an endogenous strength is even more clearly affirmed. When material resources are still limited, arousing and promoting cultural and spiritual values is the fundamental, long-term path to create development momentum.

The 2026 Bính Ngọ Spring is coming. Spring opens up new expectations. With high political determination, the consensus of the people, and faith in cultural values cultivated through history, Điện Biên is step-by-step affirming: Culture is not only the spiritual foundation of society but truly an endogenous strength, supporting and leading the province to develop sustainably in the new era.