The types of festivals in Vietnam today
What are the types of festivals in Vietnam today? What is the State's policy on festivals as well as the principle of organizing festivals in Vietnam?
The types of festivals in Vietnam today
According to Decree 110/2018/ND-CP regulating the management and organization of festivals, in Article 3, there are regulations on the types of festivals as follows:
1. “Traditional festival” (including festivals organized at historic - cultural monuments/sites, folk festivals) means a community’s cultural activity that proceeds with traditional rites to satisfy spiritual aspirations of the people.
2. “Cultural festival” means an event that is organized to introduce typical cultural and sporting values, and image of the country and Vietnamese people
3. “Industry festival” means an event organized to introduce characteristics and development of industries, honor typical organizations and artisans that made significant contribution to the conservation and development of industries.
4. “Festival of foreign origin” means an event organized to introduce the culture, economy and society of a foreign country to Vietnam's people.
Thus, there are types of festivals in Vietnam including traditional festivals, cultural festivals, industry festivals and festivals of foreign origin.
What is the State's policy on festivals in Vietnam?
Article 4 of this Decree also regulates the State's policy on festivals as follows:
1. Provide assistance in the revival and preservation of traditional festivals in order to maintain typical cultural values and satisfy spiritual aspirations of the people.
2. Encourage traditional cultural, artistic and sporting activities; apply modern technology to organize cultural festivals, industry festivals and festivals of foreign origin.
3. Improve the quality of professional training courses offered to officials in charge of festival management.
4. Promote international cooperation in festival organization.
What are the principles of festivals in Vietnam?
The principle of organizing festivals is stipulated in Article 5 of this Decree:
1. Festivals are organized to educate the people about patriotism, national pride and “Uống nước nhớ nguồn” (“When drinking water, think of its source”) ethics, honor predecessors, historical figures and those who have made significant contribution to the development of the country; disseminate historical, cultural and architectural values of monuments/sites and traditional values of festivals.
2. Festivals must be organized in a formal, practical and effective manner and in conformity with the scope and activities of festivals; organize traditional festivals based on historical or cultural significance; reduce the frequency of traditional festivals.
3. Rites of festivals must be performed in a solemn and traditional manner. The rites that are violent, offensive and against Vietnamese people’s love for peace and humanity.
4. People are educated in a manner that adopts good behaviors, attitudes and awareness; halt the trend in pursuing material and personal gains.
5. Measures must be adopted to protect monuments/sites and scenic landscapes and ensuring security, public order, fire prevention and environmental protection.
6. Festivals must not be organized in a manner that serves self-interest and group interest; do not force organizations and individuals to offer contributions for festival organization.
7. The use of state budget should be restricted and private sector involvement in organizing festivals should be increased; practice thrift and fight against wastefulness.
Best Regards!
