What region does Nghe culture refer to?
Nghe culture refers to the area covering the two present-day provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh. Historically the region had various names: Hoan Chau, Nghe An Chau, Nghe region, Nghe Tinh. From 1976 to 1991, Nghe An and Ha Tinh were one province named Nghe Tinh, later separated into two provinces as today.
Nghe An lies at the center of the North Central region, bordered by Ha Tinh to the south, Thanh Hoa to the north, Laos to the west with 468km of land border, and the sea to the east with 82km of coastline. It is a land with a long settlement history, including archaeological sites of the Quynh Van culture dating back about 6,000 years and the Lang Vac site of the Dong Son culture.
What is the origin and character of vi and giam folk singing?
Vi and giam folk singing is a distinctive form of folk performance of this land. According to the Nghe An Department of Culture and Sports, the heritage of vi and giam folk singing has been honored by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It is one of the typical folk art forms, reflecting the working life, emotions, and thinking of Nghe people across generations.
Vi and giam are two melodies with different styles but often mentioned together. They are practiced in many contexts: field work, community activities, festivals, courtship. Content usually revolves around love for homeland, family, production labor, and social relationships.
The preservation and promotion of vi and giam singing receive special attention from authorities and the culture sector. Many research works and projects have been invested in, proposing preservation solutions, while honoring and creating conditions for artisans to preserve, practice, and transmit the heritage.
How is the tradition of scholarly pursuit recognized?
Nghe An is known as a land rich in the tradition of scholarly pursuit. According to historical records, Nghe An has many famous clans and learning villages, a cradle producing for the country many generals, mandarins, scientists, and cultural figures of national and international stature. The number of Nghe Tinh people passing high-level imperial exams (Doctorate or above) ranks fourth nationwide, after Hai Duong, Bac Ninh, and Hanoi.
This tradition is tied to the natural and social conditions of the land. It is a region with a long history, where many cultural factors converge, and also where people must strive to rise amid no small natural difficulties. Learning is valued as a path to personal development and contribution to the community.
What is distinctive about religious life and festivals in Nghe An?
According to statistics from the Nghe An Department of Culture and Sports, the province has inventoried 463 heritages with all 7 types of Intangible Cultural Heritage, widely distributed and of historical and cultural value typical for six ethnic groups: Kinh, Thai, Tho, Mong, Kho Mu, O Du.
Nghe An currently has 9 National Intangible Cultural Heritages. Among these are typical festivals such as:
- Den Con Festival (Hoang Mai town)
- Den Qua Festival (Do Luong district)
- Den Chin Gian Festival (Que Phong district)
- Den Bach Ma Festival (Thanh Chuong district)
- Den Thanh Liet Festival
- Den Ong Hoang Muoi Festival (Hung Nguyen district)
- Xang Khan ritual of the Thai ethnic group in western Nghe An
- Den Yen Luong Festival (Cua Lo town)
- Den Nguyen Canh Hoan Festival (Do Luong district)
Each festival has its own time, rituals, and meaning. For example, Den Yen Luong Festival, also called Phuc Luc Ngoat Festival, takes place in mid-month of the 6th lunar month, tied to the Den Yen Luong relic in Nghi Thuy ward, Cua Lo town. The festival is held every three years in the years of Rat, Horse, Cat, Rooster over three days, the 14th, 15th, and 16th of the 6th lunar month. It is one of the largest and most distinctive traditional festivals of the coastal area of Nghe.
Den Nguyen Canh Hoan Festival in Trang Son commune, Do Luong district is held to commemorate the merits of Grand Tutor and Duke Nguyen Canh Hoan and the deities of the Nguyen Canh clan. He was born in the year of Tan Ty 1521, a man of both literary and martial talent, becoming a brave general of the Le dynasty and gaining many merits in battles against the Mac army. In 1576, he was betrayed by a subordinate and harmed in prison at the age of 57. King Le held a national funeral, and in 1602 posthumously awarded him the eight characters Hung Nghi Khuong Te Trach Dan Dai Vuong. In the year of Giap Thin 1664, the court decided to hold the festival annually on the full moon of the 3rd lunar month at the temple, and every 10 years a grand ceremony called the Decennial Grand Festival.
Ethnic groups in Nghe An and their distinct cultural features
According to statistics from the Nghe An Department of Culture and Sports, six ethnic groups live in the province: Kinh, Thai, Tho, Mong, Kho Mu, and O Du. Each has cultural heritages with its own character, contributing to the diverse cultural picture of this land. Heritages of ethnic minorities such as the Xang Khan ritual of the Thai have been recognized as National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
What challenges does the preservation of intangible cultural heritage face?
Besides achievements, the preservation and promotion of intangible cultural heritage values in Nghe An still face many difficulties. According to the provincial culture sector, the risk of loss and fading of many heritage forms remains. The promotion of traditional festival values is still limited. The collection, preservation, and promotion of heritage have not matched existing potential. Funding, budget, means, and human resources for this field remain difficult.
To address these challenges, the province has mobilized social resources for preservation, well managed festival activities, customs, practices, and folk art forms. Many relics have been restored and embellished with state and socialized funds. The culture and sports sector also coordinates with tourism to connect intangible cultural heritage in community tours, turning heritage into tourism promotion products, contributing to local socio-economic development.
Comparing cultural features across areas of Nghe
Nghe culture is not uniform but differs across areas. Some areas can be distinguished as follows:
| Area | Notable features |
|---|---|
| Coastal area | Sea-related festivals such as Den Yen Luong Festival, Den Con Festival; culture of coastal residents |
| Plain area | Tradition of scholarly pursuit, many learning villages, scholarly clans; temple and communal house festivals |
| Mountainous area | Culture of ethnic minorities such as Thai, Tho, Mong, Kho Mu, O Du; rituals such as Xang Khan |
These differences reflect natural conditions, settlement history, and economic features of each area. Existing sources record this diversity as a natural feature of the land, without ranking among areas.
The role of Nghe culture in contemporary life
Currently, traditional intangible cultural values still exist in the lives of ethnic groups in Nghe An. Each cultural heritage carries its own ethnic character, creating potential for cultural development and becoming an important resource in the province's socio-economic development.
Traditional festivals, performances, folk games, customs, practices, and beautiful lifestyles are being researched, collected, restored, and protected. The culture and sports sector continues to advise the Provincial People's Committee to effectively implement mechanisms and policies on culture in general and cultural heritage in particular, creating a favorable environment for artisans, artists, and cultural researchers.
What to note when learning about Nghe culture
When learning about Nghe culture, note that this is a large, diverse cultural region that cannot be reduced to a few features. Different sources may have different ways of dividing and evaluating heritage forms, festivals, and cultural features. Some information on the origin and timing of melodies and festivals may not be entirely consistent among research documents.
This article is based on official sources from VietnamPlus and functional agencies of Nghe An province. Readers should consult further specialized research for a fuller view of each specific aspect of Nghe culture.
