Despite rapid urbanization, many villages in Hoa Vang District, Da Nang have still retained their rural cultural beauty thanks to the active response of the people in building a cultural life in the residential area, the appreciation and promotion of the role of village elders, family leaders and prestigious people in the community to educate young people, preserve good customs in villages as well as hamlets.

Villagers in Hoa Phuoc Commune always actively respond to cultural and sports activities of the commune to build peaceful, rich and beautiful villages. Photo: D.G.H

Creating a happy and healthy life

The implementation of many models of building cultural life in residential areas, including the model of "Turn off the kitchen" in the Tra Kiem Village, Hoa Phuoc Commune helps to show clearly the peaceful beauty of the countryside and the close friendship of the villagers here. The festival "Turn off the kitchen" has been still held annually on the 12^th day of the 2^nd lunar month.

Before the festival, people in the village went out to clean up the surroundings, sewers, and the environment. The offerings are the contributions of the villagers to sacrifice to the gods, pray for favourable weather and stable life. After that, everyone will assemble to eat an intimate meal in the spirit of mutual affection and to tighten the friendship of the village.

As shared by Mr Nguyen But, Chairman of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee in Hoa Phuoc Commune, this is a festival with profound humanity as the people always take the community spirit as the priority, the common routine of the village. During the ceremony, a reputable representative in the village assesses the work done and failed to let the whole people understand and encourage everyone to contribute constructive ideas. Thereby reminding people to live in solidarity and loyalty to build an increasingly progressive village.

Meanwhile, Con Mong Village has kept peace and unity for many years thanks to the good implementation of the model of taking phone numbers from the people so that when detecting thieves, robbers who often hide in neighbouring areas, the locals can call each other to prevent and catch these criminals on inter-village roads. This model has been implemented for more than 6 years now and also facilitated the announcement of meetings to the people.

Hoa Phuoc Commune is also a locality that well implements the "5 no" model, that is no music, no alcohol, no tobacco, no melon seeds, and no joss paper. This model not only helps to keep the village peaceful but also reduces costs for people in organizing funerals or wedding parties.

With the spirit of mutual affection and solidarity, joining hands to build a cultural life in a healthy residential area, Hoa Phuoc Commune has been recognized as a class-5 urban.

Promote the role of leaders of villages, of families

In order to maintain effective models in rural areas, elderly leaders of villages, of family and prestigious people in the community have played a great role in propagating and mobilizing people to participate. They are both at the forefront of local movement activities and are a shining example for their descendants and families.

Taking the elderly leader Bui Van Sieng of Gian Bi Village, Hoa Bac Commune as a typical example, he has mobilized villagers to implement numerous effective economic and cultural models, contributing to improving the material and spiritual life of the Co Tu ethnic minority.

Mr Sieng has called on his descendants, relatives and villagers to abolish the outdated practices of weddings, funerals and festivals of the Co Tu people, thereby preserving and promoting the good cultural identity of his nation.

Moreover, with the prestige of an elderly leader of the village, he has also actively mobilized relatives in the village to work hard and develop the family economy; especially by implementing effective economic models such as planting and taking care of forests, investing in building homestays for tourism activities to generate stable income and improve people's lives.

In addition, he has also mobilized villagers to change the structure of crops and livestock, and apply science and modern technology to production to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty.

In the same vein, Mr. Ngo De residing in Quan Nam 4 Village, Hoa Lien Commune, is a shining example of taking care of family economic development and building a happy family. With the awareness that "the family is the cell of the society and a prosperous family is a core of prospering society".

Mr De has made great efforts to overcome difficulties and strive to become one of the most typical cultural families and be a good example for families in the village to boldly change the structure of crops and get rich righteously.

Mr Ngo De has constantly learned techniques, and boldly renovated 2 hectares of gardens to grow fruit trees, bringing a stable income for his family.

As a public official, Mr Ngo De has mobilized and propagated the people to abide by all guidelines and policies of the Party, the laws of the State and local regulations. He has also together with the People's Committee of the village to establish a Study Promotion Union, which rewards around VND 10 million each year for local students.

All in all, the positive contributions of elderly leaders in some villages and family leaders like Mr Bui Van Sieng and Ngo De have been shining examples in the countryside for people to learn, preserve and promote family traditions, beautiful cultural customs, as well as continue to join hands in a bid to building Hoa Vang's homeland to become more prospering.

Reporting by DOAN HAO LUONG - Translating by T.VY