Innovation adopted to preserve and promote national cultural identity

As our nation prepares to enter a new era characterized by strong socio-economic growth, this is also the time when culture – the nation’s soft power - is placed at the center and must be preserved and promoted. With their dynamism, creativity, and quick adaptability to societal and technological changes, the youth are the force that will carry forward, innovate, and transform traditional cultural values into an integral part of contemporary life.

A special music performance themed “The Picture of Folk Art” by students of Lac Hong Bilingual Primary-Secondary-High School (Tran Bien ward). Photo: Courtesy of the students

Young people spread traditional culture

Opening with the melodious sound of the moon-shaped lute, Karik’s performance of Van ly doc hanh (“A long journey alone”) during the first grand finale of the reality music show Anh Trai 'Say Hi (Say Hi with Bros) captured widespread attention last week. The performance impressed audiences not only visually, with its spectacular stage, dynamic choreography, and graceful martial-arts-inspired dance, but also musically, blending traditional pentatonic scales, Southern Vietnamese folk opera, contemporary folk, and rap in a seamless fusion.

Earlier, in September 2025, singer Duc Phuc was crowned champion at Intervision 2025 with his “Phu Dong Thien Vuong” performance. The performance, rich in Vietnamese cultural identity, won international acclaim and opened opportunities to promote the nation’s traditional artistic values to a global audience.

It can be said that the creativity and innovation of the young artists not only offer audiences fresh experiences but also pave the way for new cultural products. Alongside this, preservation goes hand in hand with development when the traditional cultural values are combined with modern music, allowing culture to continue spreading in contemporary life.

Recently, the emergence of cultural products that leave a lasting impression has consistently been associated with young people—not only in music but also in fine arts, design, cinema, media, digital content, and performing arts.

According to Dr Nguyen Thi Nguyet, the fusion of folk elements with contemporary styles is a natural process that both preserves tradition and fosters creativity, in line with the inherent rules of cultural development. Numerous musical works blending modern components with folk influences have gained widespread attention on social media. This trend reflects the adaptability of traditional culture, the younger generation’s desire to affirm their cultural identity, and the dynamism, creativity, and capacity for international integration of cultural industry products.

Growing up in a multicultural, technologically rich environment, young people readily embrace new trends and flexibly combine tradition with modernity. As a result, they are also the key agents entrusted with the responsibility of preserving and promoting the nation’s cultural values.

TikToker and author of Huyen tich dan gian (Folk legends) Pham Thi Thuy Tien shared that the digital environment is home to many highly talented young creators who are both inventive and bold in expressing their cultural identity, thereby giving cultural products distinctive, diverse, and unique characteristics. She added that young people possess a strong ability to build community connections and rapidly disseminate creative works through social media. By producing cultural products rich in meaning, imbued with humanistic values, and reflective of contemporary life, young creators play a vital role in ensuring the sustainable development of Vietnamese culture in the digital age.

Creating spaces for cultural innovation and creativity

Following administrative consolidation, Dong Nai has become a province with a large and culturally diverse youth population. Young people are a dynamic force, highly tech-savvy, and actively engaged in cultural and recreational activities, entrepreneurship, and social media. Dong Nai is also a multicultural region, home to various ethnic minority communities across its localities, creating a rich environment of languages, customs, festivals, cuisine, and music. In this context, young people can both inherit traditional cultural values and easily integrate modern elements, resulting in creative, distinctive cultural products that enrich local cultural life.

Recently, the Provincial People’s Committee issued a directive on implementing the Project on Youth’s Participation in Preserving and Promoting Vietnamese National Cultural Identity for the 2025–2030 Period in Dong Nai. The project, developed and implemented by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Youth Federation (VYF), aims to harness young people's pioneering role in preserving, spreading, promoting, and enriching the nation’s cultural identity.

To implement the project in Dong Nai, the provincial VYF has been assigned to lead and coordinate with relevant agencies and units, following guidance from the VYF Central Committee, to develop a specific local implementation plan. This plan must clearly define objectives, targets, and tasks, adapted to local conditions and the needs of young people in the province. The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will take the lead, coordinating with the Department of Home Affairs, other agencies, units, and localities, to facilitate the VYF at all levels in piloting models of youth engagement in preserving and promoting national cultural identity in the province.

A performance in the brocade fashion show titled the New Day in Bom Bo hamlet. Photo courtesy of VNA

Le Thi Thu Thuan, Secretary of the Bom Bo Commune Youth Union, shared that in the resolution of the first Congress of the Bom Bo Commune Youth Union for the 2025–2030 term, the Union set out specific targets. Each year, at least one to two activities are organized to introduce local tourism and S’tieng ethnic culture to peers and neighboring units, with a particular focus on the S’tieng Ethnic Cultural Preservation Area in Bom Bo hamlet.

The Union also implements initiatives such as producing videos to showcase local cuisine, brocade weaving, and traditional spaces of ethnic minority communities; supporting the digitization of cultural images and materials for long-term preservation and dissemination on social media. Young people are encouraged to engage in entrepreneurship and creative innovation using local products, including cuisine, handicrafts, and specialty agricultural products. The Union also collaborates to guide tourists in experiencing S’tieng culture, contributing to the sustainable preservation and promotion of ethnic cultural values.

Creating accessible and creative cultural practice spaces is also encouraged by schools across the province. Lac Hong Bilingual Primary-Secondary-High School (Tran Bien ward) recently launched a special thematic program titled “The Picture of Folk Art”, a creative playground where students immerse themselves in traditional culture and freely express their artistic talents.

Nguyen Thi Tri, Head of the Literature Department in charge of the thematic program, explained that the activity is open to students from grades 6 to 12 and is organized in a stage-based format with three main components: performing recycled traditional costumes, singing and dancing folk songs, and staging folk dramas. Through this program, students gain a deeper understanding of Vietnamese folk art, foster a love of their cultural roots, and develop a sense of responsibility for preserving national identity. The activity also helps students cultivate creative thinking, teamwork, presentation, and stage performance skills.

“The stage-based format transforms literary works from static pages into dynamic performances, making it easier for students to understand, appreciate, and enjoy folk literature. This approach nurtures national pride and a love for Vietnamese culture among the younger generation,” said Nguyen Thi Tri, Head of the Literature Department, Lac Hong Bilingual Primary-Secondary-High School.

By Nhat Ha – Translated by Hong Van, Thu Ha