Effective ways to both promote access to the quintessence of culture and intelligentsia of humanity and preserve the national cultural identities were discussed at a scientific workshop which took place in Da Nang last Friday.

Entitled ‘Promoting Cultural and Social Development in the Central Region in the Context of International Integration’, the event was jointly organised by the city’s Institute of Politics Zone 3 and the Science and Society Institute in the Central Region.

Ms Ha Dieu Thu from the Science and Society Institute in the Central Region raised her worry about the bloom in the refurbishment of cultural heritage sites in central localities in order to promote the development of their tourism sectors.  This causes the loss of their aesthetics and cultural values.

Mr Nguyen Thang Long from the Sub-Institute of Vietnamese Arts and Culture in Hue remarked that some sea and islands culture and traditions which have been recognised as national intangible cultural heritages are being gradually simplified.  Included were ‘Cau Ngu’ (fish worshipping) and ‘Le Khao Le The Linh Hoang Sa’ (Hoang Sa Soldiers Feast and Commemoration) festivals. 

In an attempt to preserve and promote the values of cultural heritage, participants at the workshop suggested that the focus should be on boosting international integration in order to advertise the images of these cultural heritages and of the land and people of Viet Nam to international friends, as well as to appeal for science and technology assistance from countries worldwide.