Quá trình xây dựng đời sống văn hóa ở tỉnh lạng sơn từ năm 1998 đến năm 2015 tt tiếng anh

VIETNAM ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

GRADUATE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

VI THUY DIU

THE PROCESS OF BUILDING CULTURAL LIFE
IN LANG SON PROVINCE FROM 1998 TO 2015

SUMMARY OF DOCTORAL THESIS

HANOI - 2019


THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED AT
THE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Scientific Advisors: Prof. DrSc. VU QUANG HIEN

Review 1: Prof. DrSc. Tran Duc Cuong

Review 2: Prof. DrSc. Nguyen Van Su

Review 3: Prof. DrSc. Hoang Hong

The thesis will be defensed at the Academy-Level Thesis
Assessment Council at the Academy of Social Sciences
At … 00’ date … month … year 20…

The thesis can be searched at:
- The National Library

- The Library of the Academy of Social Sciences


AUTHOR’S LIST OF ANNOUNCED WORKS RELATED
TO THE THESIS
1. Thuy Thuy Diu (2015), "Promoting the role of cultural lifestyle to
contribute to maintaining order and security in Lang Son province",
Building Cultural Life Journal, (6), page 42 - 44.
2. Vi Thuy Diu (2015), Lang Son Provincial Party Committee with
the work of building cultural lifestyle in 2000 – 2010 period, Record
of scientific conference "Interdisciplinary research in Social Sciences
and Humanities - an approach from theory and practice”, University
of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi.
3. Vi Thuy Diu (2015), Ethnographic Textbook, People’s Police
Academy, Chapter 2.
4. Vi Thuy Diu (2015), Ethnology in the work of police, People’s
Police Academy, Monographs, Chapters 1 and 3.
5. Vi Thuy Diu (2016), Viewpoints, policies of building culture life
imbued with national identity in the spirit of the 10th National
Congress Resolution of the Party, People’s Police Academy,
Scientific Workshop Record
6. Vi Thuy Diu (2018), "The impact of industrialization and
modernization on building cultural life in Lang Son province and
some issues set out in the current period", Social Science Human
Resources Journal - Academy of Social Sciences, (6), p. 78 - 84.
7. Vi Thuy Diu (2018), "Some issues set out in building cultural life
in Lang Son province", Journal of Culture and Arts, (407), p. 50-54.


PREAMBLE

1. Urgency of the topic
In mankind history, culture has proved its value and power. Without
culture, mankind cannot make great strides in the natural and social world
reforming journey, affirming and creating the current intellectual
civilization. Contemporary life has affirmed that culture is an indispensable
part in all social activities, from politics and economy to community life. It
is difficult to imagine a field with absence of culture as an element showing
the subject's progress in recognizing and solving problems. Even the more
complex the life is, the more the role of culture is shown, the more value of
culture is highlighted.
An expression of culture in social life is cultural life. Cultural life
refers to the positive aspect of life, that is, the positive life of individuals,
families or communities to respond appropriately to specific circumstances
to satisfy the cultural needs, direct people to the true, the good and the
beautiful. Cultural life reflects cultural demands of society, exists in
everyday life, every person, every family and a certain community.
Building cultural life is to comprehensively and synchronously build
the elements that constitute cultural life, including many different fields,
from material culture to spiritual culture, from individual culture to family
and community culture, from political culture to education, arts culture,
from scientific culture to spiritual culture, customs and practices ... This
thesis studies the building of cultural from perspective of building positive
sides in social life, contributing to improving life quality of each individual,
family and community, through contents, manners, forms, organizations,
cultural activities to meet the demand for enjoyment and creation of
cultural values for the development of people and communities. Along with
building is to fight against, building is to promote, develop cultural
activities, expand exchanges, selectively acquire goodness and invention of
the world culture to catch up with development of times; Accompanying
with building is to fight against the obsoleteness, in old customs and habits

to protect national identity.
During the opening, integrated international exchanges, building cultural
life is an important task of the whole country, thereby contributing to creating a
stable, safe and sustainable socio-political environment on basis of guaranteed
economic life. Building cultural life is the duty of every citizen, every family,
every agency, union, social organization, levels and branches.
Lang Son is a province taking great care of building cultural life,
located at the Eastern gateway of the country, with a particularly important
economic, political, cultural and social position and international border
gates, it is an economic exchange hub between Vietnam and China with

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ASEAN countries, Eastern - Western Europe. Lang Son has many ethnic
groups (Nung, Tay, Kinh, Dao, Hoa, San Chay, Mong ...), Lang people
have a tradition of preserving and promoting people's cultural identity
values, ethnicity, building a rich cultural life, imbued with its own identity.
The development history shows that the Lang Son peoples with their
identities, through many times, still have not faded away, even through the
times when the country was invaded, the nation was dominated, each time
culture with its bravery and vitality takes national identity as a criterion,
refining, clarifying, absorbing the good quintessence of other cultures,
enriching its identity.
Since Lang Son entered the renovation period, the international
integration trend has become increasingly strong in all fields. Culture also
faces many opportunities and challenges. The great opportunity is to be
able to receive the progressive cultural movements of mankind to keep up
with the times. The big challenge is that the cultural movements from
outside can be disturbing, even eliminating a certain aspect of national

cultural identity, and negative elements can creep and break the fine habits
and customs in the cultural life of ethnic groups. In the current period, the
market economy and the opening and integration trend is creating many
important motivations and conditions to develop the country, however, the
its reverses have a negative impact on culture, explicitly evident in the
transformation of lifestyle, life of a part of people of all ethnic groups. On
the other hand, hostile forces are finding ways to counteract innovation,
including the "peaceful evolution" strategy in the field of culture and
thought. To protect itself, one of the problems Lang Son province is
currently concerned about is building cultural life of ethnic groups,
mobilizing all potentials for the cause of building and protecting the
homeland, in parallel with the comprehensive reform of nation that requires
close attachment of socio-economic development with building of the
cultural life of the province, contributing to building a culture because
culture is the spiritual foundation of society, both the goal and the driving
force of the innovation career. That awareness directs practical building of
cultural life to contribute to limiting negative impacts of the market
economy in the process of building new culture and new people.
In the 1998 - 2015 period, building cultural life in Lang Son has
achieved remarkable results on building personal cultural life, family
cultural life, community culture life, building cultural environment.
However, the building of cultural life in Lang Son also has limitations
and shortcomings due to many subjective and objective reasons, many
party committees and authorities have not paid enough attention to this
area; leading and direction are not so drastic. The concretization and
institutionalization of the Party's Resolution are slow, inconsistent and in

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some cases infeasible. The state management of culture is slowly renewed,
sometimes, are overlooked and even loose; disciplines are not strict.
Besides, some ethnic groups in Lang Son now maintain backward customs
and habits, a loophole for criminals to take advantage of.
Lang Son is in the renovation period when the old is losing and the
new is forming, in this process what will be lost, what will be succeeded,
what has become obsolete and what is reasonable, what needs to be built?
All these are the problems being posed from reality of life that require to
gradually clarify. However, this is currently less discussed, researched
systematically. Therefore, studying the process of building cultural life in
Lang Son is very necessary. Based on that, lessons learned to effectively
implement the cultural life of Lang Son province will be drawn in the new
period. The review and evaluation of the process of building cultural life
not only has historical and practical significance, but also of current affairs.
With the above scientific and practical meaning, I decided to choose
the topic: "The process of building cultural life in Lang Son province
from 1998 to 2015" as the thesis topic.
2. Purpose and mission of the thesis
2.1. Purpose of the thesis
Restoring the building of the cultural life of Lang Son province from
1998 to 2015, initially summarizing some experiences for present and
future work
2.2. Thesis tasks
Giving an overview of the topic-related researches, determining the
issues of previous researches, determining the issues to be focused by the thesis
Analyzing factors affecting the process of building cultural life in
Lang Son province from 1998 to 2015.
Restoring the process of building cultural life in Lang Son province
with specific activities and results from 1998 to 2015.
Drawing characteristics, advantages, limitations, meanings and

experiences in building cultural life in Lang Son province.
3. Research subjects and scope of the thesis
3.1. Research subjects
Reality of building cultural life in Lang Son province from 1998 to 2015.
3.2. Research scope
- Content: Studying the factors affecting the building of cultural life in
Lang Son province and the reality of building cultural life from 1998 to 2015
The building cultural life content is broad, the thesis focuses on the
main point: building a personal cultural life, building a family cultural life,
building a community cultural life and building cultural environment
- Space: The study area of the thesis is Lang Son province, including
Lang Son city and 10 districts: Trang Dinh, Cao Loc, Loc Binh, Van Lang,
Dinh Lap, Chi Lang, Huu Lung and Van Quan , Binh Gia, Bac Son.

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The thesis has relations with other localities, especially the provinces
in the region (such as Bac Kan and Cao Bang) to clarify the characteristics
of Lang Son in building cultural life.
- Time: The thesis takes the milestone in 1998, the year Lang Son
officially conducted the building of cultural life in the whole province in
the spirit of the 5th Conference Resolution of the Party Central Committee
Section VIII on building and developing an advanced Vietnamese culture
imbued with national identity, with a focus on building cultural life.
2015 was the year of Lang Son’s completion of 5-year plan 2011 2015, about building cultural life.
To highlight the process of building cultural life in Lang Son
province from 1998 to 2015, the thesis refers to the period before 1998 at
the necessary level, in order to understand the situation of building literary
life before Lang Son officially deployed this plan in the whole province.

4. Materials and research method
4.1. Material source
Unpublished documents stored in Lang Son province (including
documents on organization and building of cultural life and reports of party,
authority and department organizations from 1998 to 2015) This is reliable
source of the thesis.
Studies on cultural life, including related books, magazines and
journals. This is an important source of material for the thesis to study
aspects in depth.
Published books and articles on history and culture of Lang Son
province. This is a source of material to have clearer view over facts of
research issues in the general development process.
4.2. Research Methods
- Rationale and methodology
The study is conducted on the basis of dialectical materialism,
historical materialism; histological, ethnographic; sociological, ethical,
cultural methodologies
- Specific research methods
Historical method. This method is used to understand the process of
building cultural life in Lang Son province from 1998 to 2015. Applying this
historical method, the thesis complies with four basic principles: chronicle,
comprehensiveness, detail, specificity in the research process. In the thesis, the
author tries to find important milestones in the process of building cultural life
in Lang Son province and has a suitable historical analysis
Logical method. This method is used to present related issues by
causal relationships such as understanding the effects of building cultural
life on the development of society; summarizing achievements, limitations
and causes of achievements and limitations; analyzing the role, position and

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important contributions of building cultural life, drawing experiences for
building cultural life in the coming years.
In addition, the thesis also uses other methods such as comparison,
analysis, induction, interpretation, statistics, synthesis, field survey, witness
interview ... suitable to each requirement of the thesis
5. New contributions of the thesis
Relatively systematically reconstructing the process of building
cultural life in Lang Son province from 1998 to 2015 over two periods
(1998-2005) and (2006 - 2015). Clarifying the development steps of
building cultural life by such axis as: building a personal cultural life,
building a family cultural life, building a community cultural life, building
cultural environment
Clarifying characteristics of cultural life building process in Lang Son
province from 1998 to 2015.
Analyzing meaning of building cultural life, especially its impacts on
improving people's lives, preserving national identity, maintaining security
and order.
Initially summing up some experiences from success and failure in
building cultural life from 1998 to 2015, enabling localities to draw out
guidelines, policies and plans to continue building cultural life.
6. Theoretical and practical meaning of the thesis
6.1. Theory
Contributing to affirming the role, position and importance of cultural
life and building cultural life, especially the human values of cultural life
for people, improving people's lives.
Experiences from practices of building cultural life helps to continue
building local cultural life in the next path
6.2. Practice

Supplementing and enriching reference sources on history of building
cultural life in a specific space and time, used as reference for research,
teaching and learning about local history and issues related to building
cultural life.
Providing scientific support for the leading, management and
planning of guidelines and policies on building cultural life.
The research results of the thesis are reference for building cultural
life in the locality and neighboring provinces in the current period and in
the coming time.
7. Structure of the thesis
In addition to the Introduction, Conclusion, Author’s List of
Scientific Works related to the Thesis, List of References, Appendix, the
thesis content is divided into 4 chapters (10 periods).
Chapter 1. Overview of topic related research projects

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Chapter 2. Building cultural life in Lang Son province from 1998 to 2005.
Chapter 3. Building cultural life in Lang Son province from 2006 to 2015.
Chapter 4. Comments and experiences.
Chapter 1
OVERVIEW OF TOPIC RELATED RESEARCH PROJECTS
1.1. Research situation related to the thesis topic
1.1.1. Topic related researches
Building cultural life is widely deployed throughout the country;
there are many research projects in different scope and angles which the
thesis can inherit, typically:
Building cultural family in a new career compiled by Ho Chi Minh
National Political Academy, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 1997.

Questions and answers about cultural village, cultural family,
cultural life, organization of traditional festivals compiled and published
by Tran Huu Tong, Ha Van Tang, National Political Publishing House,
Hanoi, 1998.
Some traditional cultural values with cultural life in rural areas by
two authors Pham Viet Long and Nguyen Dao Toan, Ethnic Culture
Publishing House, Hanoi, 1998.
Some theoretical and practical issues on building cultural life in our
country by Hoang Vinh, Information Culture Publishing House, Hanoi,
1999.
Symbol of building cultural life at the grassroots level, compiled and
published by the Ministry of Culture - Information, volume 8, Hanoi, 2003.
Building cultural life in the highlands by Tran Huu Son, Ethnic
Culture Publishing House, Hanoi, 2004.
Educating lifestyle, new life by Thanh Le, Ho Chi Minh City
Publishing House, 2004.
Building basic cultural environment of Van Duc Thanh, National
Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2004.
Building the current lifestyle in Vietnam by Vo Van Thang,
Information Culture Publishing House, Hanoi, 2006.
Cultural life of ethnic minorities in industrialization and
modernization process by Tran Van Binh, Political Theory Publishing
House, Hanoi, 2006.
Building cultural life of Vietnam’s working class - A number of
theoretical and practical issues by Nguyen Van Nhat, Social Science
Publishing House, Hanoi, 2010.

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Building new rural cultural life of two authors Truong Cong Tham
and Vu Hai, Ethnic Culture Publishing House, Hanoi, 2012.
Questions and answers about building civilized lifestyle, compiled by
the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, National Political Publishing
House, Hanoi, 2014.
Questions and answers about the law on building cultural life in the
countryside compiled by the Department of Cultural Affairs under the Ministry
of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Labor Publishing House, Hanoi, 2016.
In addition to the above research works, there are also scientific
research articles on building cultural life in magazines, such as:
The article Thinking about the movement "All people unite to build
cultural life" by author Le Tien Dung (Journal of Culture and Arts, No. 12,
2007); Evaluation of people about changes after 15 years of launching and
implementing the movement "All people unite to build cultural life" by
author Do Ngoc Khanh (Journal of Psychology, No. 9 / (186) , 2014);
Awareness of people on the objectives of building cultural life in residential
areas by author Nguyen Thi Hoa (Journal of Psychology, No. 8, 2015); The
mountainous characteristics with the matter of building the basic cultural
life by Tran Huu Son (Journal of Culture and Arts, No. 398, August 2017).
This is an important resource to enable the thesis to determine
direction, scope, content and research tasks of the topic.
1.1.2. Research on building cultural life in Lang Son province
In relation to this topic, works which the thesis can inherit are:
Who went to Lang village by Ha Van Thu, Hoang Nam, Vi Hong
Nhan, Vuong Toan, Ethnic Culture Publishing House, 1994.
Land Son 30 years of cultural and revolutionary journey, compiled
by Lang Son Literature and Arts Association, Hanoi Culture and
Information Publishing House, Hanoi, 1998.
Lang Son Geography, compiled by the People's Committee of Lang
Son Province, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 1999.

Lang Son, a unique cultural area of Pham Vinh, Information Culture
Publishing House, Hanoi, 2001.
Lang Son Folk Festival, by Lang Son Provincial Department of
Culture and Information, Lang Son, 2002.
Lang’s Letters and Arts, Culture - A Perspective of Duong Loc
Vuong, Ethnic Culture Publishing House, Hanoi, 2006.
Lang Son Cultural Heritage, Episode 1 - Tangible Culture by Nguyen
Cuong, Culture and Information Publishing House, Hanoi, 2006.
Tay Nung Folk Beliefs by Nguyen Thi Yen, Social Science Publishing
House, Hanoi, 2009.

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Lang Son Lineages, Hereditary Chief in the history, Nguyen Quang
Huynh, scientific research topic, leading agency: Lang Son, Department of
Culture, Sports and Tourism, Sang Son, 2010
Preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values of Lang Son
province during the renovation period by author Trinh Ngoc Chinh,
National Culture Publishing House, Hanoi, 2012.
Cultural beauty of Lang land by Dang The Anh, National Culture
Publishing House, Hanoi, 2012. Work: Study of unique cultural features in
Lang Son border land,
Geography - Epitaph – Parallel Sentences by Hoang Giap, Hoang
Van Pao, Information Culture Publishing House, Hanoi, 2012.
Lang Son, a Land of Chi Lang - Dong Dang - Ky Luu by Ma The
Vinh, Young Publishing House, Hanoi, 2012.
Lang Son Local cultural documents by Doan Thi Tinh, Duong Hong
Minh, Nguyen Thi Van, Education Publishing House, Hanoi, 2015.
Preserving and promoting the Land’s Folk Heritage of Lang Son Folk

Conservation Association, National Culture Publishing House, Hanoi, 2016.
1.2. Overview of relevant research results and further issues to be
studied
1.2.1. Issues which have been solved by researches
- Concerning the building of cultural life, the works have solved many
problems in different scope and angles that the thesis can inherit including:
First, the theory of building cultural life
Some works have made clear the concepts of culture, lifestyle,
cultural lifestyle, cultural life, including works that have studied the theory
and practice of building cultural life in our country. . Many works are
shown in form of questions – answers about cultural villages and cultural
families, building civilized lifestyle, organizing traditional festivals.
Second, role and position of building cultural life.
In this content, the researches have confirmed the role of cultural life
at the grassroots, theoretical and practical issues in building cultural life.
Third, factors affecting the building of cultural life.
Many works have evaluated the impact of industrialization and
modernization process on cultural life of ethnic minorities on both positive
and negative aspects.
Fourth, building cultural life content
The researches have studied building cultural life with many
dimensions including such clarified issues as: building a basic cultural
environment; building a lifestyle in Vietnam today; building a cultural
family in the cause of innovation; building the cultural life of Vietnam’s
working class; building a new rural cultural life; building a spiritual
cultural life in building new countryside in Vietnam ...

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Fifth, the Party’s and the State’s Policies in building cultural life.
Many works introduced the Party's policy on building cultural life for
many years, in which the thesis inherited the study on the 5th Conference
Resolution of the Party Central Committee Section VIII on “Building and
developing an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity,
with a focus on building cultural life”; The 10th Conference Resolution of
the Party Central Committee Section IX (July 2004) and a number of
documents guiding the building of cultural life.
- Concerning the building of cultural life in Lang Son province, the
solved problems from which the thesis can inherit are:
First, geography, nature, history, nation, people, culture, society and
manifestations of economic and cultural life of Lang Son people through
historical periods.
The works mention quite adequately about Lang’s history - culture,
outstanding is the study of famous landmarks, landscapes, customs,
practices and typical traditional cultural identity values of Lang Son people.
Second, analysis and evaluation of the material and spiritual life of
the peoples living in Lang Son
The research works on cultural traditions, customs, practices, cultural
heritage, historical relics, places of interest, festivals and art forms in Lang
Son: Tong cage festival, Ta Phu temple festival, Tam Thanh festival. Folk
games such as throwing cotton-ball, tug-of-war, spinning, dancing, archery,
bird nesting, etc. folk songs of love: Sli, Then, Put; ritual folk songs such as
Lau, Lang, Phong Slu ...
Third, reality of culture and arts of Lang
Many researches on Lang culture through literary and art prism,
including a review of 30 years of building culture and revolutionary culture
in Lang Son.
Fourth, a number of solutions to preserve and promote the cultural
heritage values of Lang Son province during the renovation period.

Research works on the folk songs of Lang region and solutions to
preserve and promote folk songs, protect intangible cultural heritage of
Lang Son province in the current period.
The research results provide the thesis with important references,
thereby determining the research direction of the topic, having an overall
view in the study of building cultural life in Lang Son.
1.2.2. Issues to be studied further by the thesis
Through research on the published works, the thesis needs to continue
to study and solve the following issues:
- Factors affecting the process of building cultural life in Lang Son
province from 1998 to 2015, including: natural conditions; social and
economic conditions; historical - cultural - population traditions; guidelines
and policies of the Party and the State on building cultural life;

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requirements from overcoming the adverse impacts of the market economy,
opening, integration, industrialization and modernization, social networks ...
- The process of building cultural life in Lang Son from 1998 to 2015
through two periods (1998-2005) and (2006 - 2015) with the following
contents: implementation of guidelines and measures; cultural life building
movements, from a personal cultural life to a family and community
cultural life and to build a cultural environment.
- Characteristics of building cultural life in Lang Son province.
- Advantages, limitations, causes, meanings and experiences in
building cultural life in Lang Son province from 1998 to 2015.
Summary of chapter 1
The published scientific works’ issues will be inherited, used, applied
and developed in this research project, providing the author to with more

scientific bases, adding theoretical and practical bases to interpret and
clarify this thesis. The author determines that direction of the topic is,
besides studying some general issues about building cultural life, studying
the factors affecting the process of building cultural life of Lang Son
province; restoring the process of building cultural life in Lang Son
province in 1998 - 2015; evaluating advantages, limitations, causes;
drawing characteristics, meaning and experience in the process of building
cultural life in Lang Son province. The research contents guarantee
newness, science and history in the research process.
Chapter 2
BUILDING CULTURAL LIFE
IN LANG SON PROVINCE FROM 1998 TO 2005
2.1. Factors affecting the process of building cultural life in Lang
Son province
2.1.1. Natural condition
Lang Son province is in the geographically strategic position of the
Northeast, convenient for transportation, and borders with China,
contributing to the richness of cultural life and economic development of
the locality. The geographical and natural characteristics of Lang Son
province have a two-sided impact on building cultural life of the province.
2.1.2. Social and economic conditions
The economy of Lang Son province still faces many difficulties,
mainly based on agriculture; poor technical facilities, backwardness,
infrastructure: electricity, roads, schools and stations in rural areas still face
many difficulties; local people are mostly farmers, majority of people
produce small agriculture, forestation, less technical workers, skilled
workers; trade and services have potentials and strengths but have not met

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the market demand. Economic characteristics affect economic - cultural
policies of the province.
2.1.3. Historical, cultural and residential traditions
Lang Son is a province with a long history and culture; Lang culture
is closely associated with history, famous for its many scenic spots and folk
festivals. This creates strengths in building cultural life in the province.
Lang Son has many ethnic groups: Nung, Tay, Kinh, Dao, San Chay,
Hoa, Mong, there is no phenomenon of national discrimination, however,
the intertwinement of civilization, progress and backward unsound customs
are always hidden in every element of people's life in Lang area
2.1.4. Policies and guidelines of the Party and State on building
cultural life
Policies and guidelines of the Party and State affirm the
determination to build cultural life: the 5th Conference Resolution of the
Party Central Committee Section VIII (1998) on “Building and developing
an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity, with a focus
on building cultural life”; the 9th National Congress Resolution of the Party
(April 2001); The 10th Conference Resolution of the Party Central
Committee Section IX (July 2004).
2.1.5. The situation of building cultural life in Lang Son province
before 1998
Before 1998, as a result of the Northern border war with a long-term
subsidy mechanism, building cultural life that had not been taken care of by
Lang Son province; people's response was still slow; scale of
implementation was narrow, only in residential areas (village, hamlet,
clusters) and pilot models
2.2. Implementing cultural life in the whole province
The implementation of building cultural life in Lang Son at the
provincial scale has been implemented since 1998. This is the task of the

party committees and government authorities, agencies, unions and
political-social organizations and the whole masses.
The Provincial Party Committee thoroughly grasped the direction of
the Central Government, set out the directions and tasks of building cultural
life of the province; Provincial People's Committees concretized the Party's
Resolutions, directed the implementation of the task of building cultural
life to the authorities; The Fatherland Front Committee of Lang Son
province advised the Party committees, authorities and coordinated with
mass organizations to build cultural life in residential areas; The Steering
Committee for Building Cultural Life in Lang Son Province concretized the
Central and Provincial Resolutions, carried out, monitored, supervised,
summarized and evaluated the implementation of cultural life in the local
area; The Youth Union of Lang Son province stroke and created cultural

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life in the youth; The Women's Union of Lang Son province united and
responded positively to the movements of building cultural life at all levels
and branches; Agencies and units deployed and applied creatively to the
conditions of their units and branches; People enthusiastically responded
and had many creative forms during the implementation process. In general,
during 1998-2005 period, Lang Son province implemented the building of
cultural life at all levels, sectors, agencies, unions, socio-political
organizations at all levels and people classes
However, in this period, the propaganda and mass mobilization were
not yet drastic, so the achieved results did not meet the set objectives. Some
steering committees of districts, cities, communes and wards were not
regular, compromising, synchronous, resulting in slow implementation, less
effectiveness. Funding from the state was still limited, affecting the

ideology and responsibility, as result, outcome was unsatisfactory with the
targeted requirement
2.3. Cultural life building movements
2.3.1. Building personal cultural life
- Movement of building good people, good deeds, advanced examples
Building good people, good deeds, advanced examples in areas are
concerned more over the previous years, there are changes in the awareness
of officials, officers and people in the province about the meaning of
building good people, good deeds and advanced examples.
- Creative learning and labor movement
The promotion of creative learning and labor movement is widely
deployed in all strata of people, especially intellectuals, artists, journalists,
scientists to improve people's intellectual standards, occupation, many
cultural, artistic and scientific works are of high value to serve people for
the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country.
- The movement "All people do physical exercises following the
example of the great Uncle Ho"
In Lang Son, from 2000 to 2005 the regular number of trainers
increased by 5.2%. However, the number of people who regularly train
annually compared to the total population of the province was still low, not
yet meeting the targets set out at Directive No. 27-CT/TU dated August 15,
2003 of the Provincial Party’s Standing Committee.
2.3.2. Building family cultural life
- Movement of building cultural family
The result of building cultural family increases every year , however,
that result has not met target of 60% in Directive 27-CT / TU.
- Movement of solidarity to help one another get rich and eliminate
poverty.

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The poverty rate from 1998 to 2005 decreased by 12.6%, however,
according to the new criteria, poor households in the province are still high,
a part of households have escaped from poverty but not yet firmly
established; and many poor households have not yet improved their
housing, including some households entitled to revolutionary policies.
2.3.3. Building community cultural life
- Movement of building cultural villages and hamlets
Although the number of villages, hamlets and clusters meeting
cultural standards has increased year by year but has not yet reached the
targets set out in the Directive No. 27- CT/TU dated August 15, 2003 of the
Provincial Party’s Standing Committee
- Building cultural agencies, units and enterprises
The building of cultural office every year has made progress, as of
2005 it reached 75.9% (exceeding 5.9% compared to the target). However,
there are still some limitations, some agencies and units are not interested
in building agencies and units with cultural life.
- Building a civilized lifestyle in weddings, funerals and festivals
For weddings: In addition to the advantages such as marriage on the
principle of equality, there are no restrictions on marriage, and some places
still maintain backward customs like early marriage.
For funerals: The outstanding feature is maintained organization of
mourning, funerals in hamlets, villages, playing a role of mutual support in
implementing the civilized lifestyle in mourning, however, there are many
limitations, many ethnic minorities invite magician to come for ghost
elimination
For festivals: organize traditional festivals associated with tourism,
promote cultural heritage skills to attract domestic and international tourists.
However, the biggest limitation is some festival organizers have not

complied with the planned program and content.
- Building cultural life associated with building village conventions of
villages, hamlets and population clusters
Building conventions of villages, hamlets have created people’s sense
and responsibility for attachment in building, developing socio-economy,
protecting security and order at the grassroots level, reducing social evils.
2.3.4. Building cultural environment
- Building cultural and sports institutions
By 2005, the number of cultural houses at commune, ward and town
levels was low (23.5%); although the number of cultural houses at village
and city levels is higher (29.2%), it is not enough to serve cultural and
information activities in the localities in the province.
- Preserving and promoting tangible and intangible cultural heritage
values

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From 1998 to 2005, the research, collection, restoration were carried
out with funds from the national target program and the provincial budget,
implementing 5 research projects, total budget was 270 million VND,
including 2 projects from the national target program and 03 projects from
provincial budget
Summary of chapter 2
Building cultural life in Lang Son has been officially implemented in
the whole province since 1998. The building cultural life content includes:
building personal cultural life, building family cultural life, building
community cultural life, building cultural environment; In each content,
specific movements are conducted to concretize each field and to achieve
the set objectives.

The process of deployment draws involvement of the political system,
agencies in the political system of the province has issued a number of
documents to concretize the content of building cultural life on each field
and people’s enjoyment in implementation, there building cultural life
content is created to conditions of each locality and each ethnic group.
The results achieved in 1998-2005 period had positive changes;
initially built and implemented norms, regulations and rules on building
cultural life; gradually increased cultural enjoyment of people, contributed
to promoting the socio-economic development; gradually removed obsolete,
outdated ones, gradually established new civilized practices that live and
work under the law ...
However, the results have not met set objectives, the movement
quality was still low, some contents were poor. The reality posed an urgent
need for Lang Son province to overcome the limitations and weaknesses in
the current period, continue to promote the building of cultural life in the
next period.
Chapter 3
BUILDING CULTURAL LIFE
IN LANG SON PROVINCE FROM 2006 TO 2015
3.1. Some requirements set out in the new period
3.1.1. The adverse effects of market economy, opening and
integration
3.1.2. Adverse impacts of industrialization and modernization to the
building of cultural life in Lang Son
3.1.3. The adverse effects of social network on human life,
especially young people.
3.1.4. Limitations in the building of cultural life in the previous
period
The adverse impact from the above factors posed new requirements to
continue to build cultural life in Lang Son province in 2006 – 2015 period

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3.1.5. New policy of the Party and the State on building cultural life
In 2006 – 2015 period, the new policy of the Party and the State on
building cultural life was affirmed in the Xth National Congress Resolution
of the Party (April 2006); The 11th National Congress of the Party in 2011;
Platform for building a transitional country to socialism (Supplemented and
developed in 2011); the 9th Conference Resolution of the 11th Party Central
Committee (Resolution No.33 - NQ/TW) on building and developing
Vietnamese culture and people to meet national requirements of sustainable
development dated 9-6-2014 ...
3.2. Continuing to build cultural life in Lang Son province
In the 2006 - 2015 period, building cultural life in Lang Son province
was carried out through 2006 - 2010 and 2011 - 2015 period
3.2.1. In 2006 - 2010 period
Lang Son province continued to build cultural life, creating a strong
change in awareness among all officials, party members, workers and
people of all walks of life about the role and position of cultural life and
human factors for industrialization and modernization.
3.2.2. In 2011 - 2015 period
Lang Son province promoted the building of cultural life, making it
intensive, practical and effective.
Highlights of both periods:
- The entry of the political system: Provincial Party Committee;
Provincial People's Committees; Provincial Committee for Propaganda and
Education; Provincial Fatherland Front Committee; Provincial Labor
Federation; Provincial Radio - Television; Provincial Farmers' Association;
Lang Son province; Women's Union Province; Department of Culture,

Sports and Tourism; Department of Health; Department of Science and
Technology; Department of Home Affairs; Department of Labor - Invalids
and Social Affairs, Department of Education and Training; Department of
Finance; Steering Committee for Building Cultural Life and people in Lang
Son ethnic groups showed that: Party committees, authorities, committees,
branches, unions, people of all strata were more aware of their
responsibilities and well performed their tasks in the new period.
- Measures for building cultural life are cared, specific programs,
tasks, plans are built for each year with organization of preliminary reviews,
experiences, directions and operational tasks given for the following year.
Thus, the strong point in implementing the building of cultural life in
2006 – 2015 period is: the guidelines and measures of the Party and the
provincial government were very specific, covering all aspects, promoting
positiveness, creativity and mobilizing power of the political system, attracting
more and more involvement of people from all walks of life. State
management in building cultural life was better than the previous period.

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3.3. Cultural life building movements:
3.3.1. Building personal cultural life
- Building good examples, good deeds, advanced examples: achieved
results showed that, compared to the previous one, the following period
surpassed, the reward number of people was higher, more typical examples.
- Creative learning and labor movement: compared to 1998-2005
period, this period achieved higher result, more individuals went to study to
improve their qualifications.
- The movement "All people do physical exercises following the great
Uncle Ho's example": the result was higher than the previous period,

reaching 24% of the province's population participating in regular training,
however, lower than 1% compared with the target
3.3.2 Building family cultural life
- Movement of building cultural family: cultural family titles
increased over years, as of 2015, surpassed 4.8% compared to the set target
- Solidarity in "Hunger eradication and poverty reduction"
The rate of poor households decreased on average by 3.29% each
year, thus achieving the set target.
3.3.3. Building community cultural life
- Movement of building cultural villages, hamlets and clusters in
2006 -2015 period, the movement of building cultural villages and blocks
continued to be replicated. By 2015, the province had 44% of villages,
hamlets, clusters that met cultural standards.
- Promoting to build agencies, units and enterprises with cultural
lifestyles
The results showed that the title of cultural agency, unit, enterprise
increased steadily over years, exceeding 8.4% of the target.
- Performing civilized lifestyle in weddings, funerals and festivals
For weddings, funerals are still limited; and many festivals were not
organized under regulation
- Developing village, hamlet, cluster conventions, rules
The development of village, hamlet, cluster conventions, rules
achieved high results, thereby contributing to well organizing performance
of guidelines and directions of the Party, the State’s policies, actively
supporting social management by law, building new life in residential areas,
strengthening the national unity mass.
- Promoting the campaign "All people unite to build cultural life in
residential areas":
As of 2015, the province had an average of 98% of residential areas
where "National unity festival day in residential areas" were organized

- Building cultural life associated with building new countryside

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As of 2015, in communes, points, the rural appearance changed
markedly, 13/207 communes met 19 standard criteria for new rural building
(6.28%); 03/207 communes achieved 13 to 18 criteria (accounting for
1.45%); 32/207 communes achieved 10 to 14 criteria (accounting for
15.46%); 100/207 communes achieved 5 to 9 criteria (accounting for
48.3%); 59/207 communes reached below 5 criteria (accounting for
28.5%); No more communes reached under 2 criteria
3.3.4. Building cultural environment
- Building of cultural and sports institutions
By 2015, the whole province had 2.059 / 2.314 villages and clusters
with cultural houses (reaching 88.9%); 56/266 communes, wards and towns
with cultural houses (reaching 26.1%); 172/226 communes, wards and
towns with a sports ground (80.5%)
- Preserving and promoting cultural heritage
In the 2006 – 2015 period, the preservation and promotion of cultural
heritages were more interested in Lang Son province than in the previous period.
- Expanding international cooperation on culture
In 2006 - 2015 period, Lang Son promoted international exchange and
cooperation, cultural exchange between the people of Vietnam-China borders.
Summary of chapter 3
In 2006 – 2015 years, requirements set out in the new period along
with the impact of industrialization and modernization, the market
economy, opening, integration, information explosion ... required Lang Son
province to continue building cultural life during 2006 - 2010 and 2011 2015 period
Building cultural life in the 2006 - 2015 period had many outstanding

points:
1. Party committees, authorities, departments, sectors, unions, people
of all classes were more deeply aware of responsibilities of each individual
and organizations for developing movement in the new period.
2. Programs and plans of the province were effectively implemented
by all levels, branches, mass organizations, localities, establishments,
agencies and units.
3. Regarding cultural life building content, besides valid ones from
the previous period, the following period content had a new addition
(Building cultural life associated with building new rural area, expanding
international cooperation). Movements were developed more
synchronously and continued to expand, and focus on improving quality
4. The results achieved on content aspects were higher than the
previous period, meeting over 90% of the set target. The result had
important implications, contributing to improving the material and spiritual
life for the people, helping each other to reduce poverty, building cultural

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villages, residential areas, clusters and families; well performing
preservation and promotion of cultural heritage, building a healthy, honest
and economical lifestyle, raising learning spirit, improving work efficiency
and quality; maintaining social order and safety, reducing social evils and
social negativity.
However, there were still some limitations, in some places, the
implementation was still slow, especially in remote areas, border areas; Some
cultural villages and clusters after being recognized as cultural titles showed a
loose expression of direction and propaganda to maintain their titles, leading to
a deterioration in quality of titles. There were still problems of alcoholism,

backwardness, less hygienic environment of communities in some places;
building cultural life in public place was still mechanical, not flexible,
creative ... Presented restrictions in building cultural life highlight the need to
strengthen building cultural life in later stages.
Chapter 4
COMMENT AND EXPERIENCE
4.1. Comment
4.1.1. Characteristics
The process of building cultural life in Lang Son from 1998 to 2015
highlighted the following characteristics: building cultural life was
dominated by natural conditions and changes in traditional culture in the
opening, integration, industrialization and modernization period; affected
by the same family relationship with neighboring countries; Economic and
cultural exchanges in Lang Son were more dynamic and stronger than some
provinces in the region; building cultural life took place in the condition
that many ethnic minorities were backward in customs, habits, superstition,
creating barriers and inhibiting the development; with typical features of
the border area, it had complexity in security; building cultural life through
two stages of development had some promoted steps but compared to other
provinces in the same region, some aspects were less developed
4.1.2. Advantages and limitations
4.1.2.1. Advantages
- First, the results achieved in building cultural life were comprehensive,
contributive to improving the material and spiritual life for people.
In terms of politics: the political system was more powerful built up;
Leadership and executive management capacity of the party committees,
authorities were improved, leadership, direction and organization of
implementation were improved and determinative, creating all aspect
stability for development
In terms of economy: continue its stability and development. The average

annual growth rate of gross domestic product (GDP) increased, reaching

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8.65% by 2015, of which the agriculture and forestry sector increased by
3.62%; building industry increased by 9.86%; services increased by 10.76% ...
GDP per capita reached 34.76 million VND by 2015
In terms of culture and society: there were many progressive changes,
traditional culture is renewed and restored, contributing to preserving and
promoting the cultural identity of ethnic groups. Many cultural values in
family and community were always promoted; People’s sense of
responsibility for building basic cultural life was getting better.
In terms of security - order: Detecting and effectively fighting against
conspiracies and actions of hostile forces, crimes, so as to prevent formation of
organized criminals, particularly dangerous crimes, not to generate "hot spots"
on order and security ... The movement "All people protect national security"
was focused and brought about practical effectiveness
- Second, the results achieved in two stages showed that the later
stage developed more than the previous one on all aspects: building
personal cultural life, building family cultural life, building community
cultural life and building cultural environment.
- Third, the cultural life building result from 1998 to 2015 had a
positive impact on improving the material and spiritual life of the people.
Achievements meet requirements of the people in the province in
short term and long term and it should be conducted more in following
years in Lang Son province.
The cause of advantages
- Lang Son thoroughly grasped the guidelines and policies of the
Party and the State on building cultural life, thereby setting out local

guidelines accordingly.
- Lang Son had appropriate and practical measures, focusing on
advocacy for all strata of society.
- The process of organization and implementation had coordination
between the Party committees, the authorities and mass organizations, with
efforts of cadres and party members, especially the grassroots cadres.
- Cultural life building activities were supported enthusiastically by
local people
Meaning
- First, building cultural life contributes to making civilized society,
building new human personality, improving people's lives.
- Second, building cultural life contributes to execution of social
discipline, living and working under the law.
- Third, building cultural life contributes to preserving and promoting
national identity.
- Fourth, building cultural life contributes to maintaining security and
order in the province, maintaining the national border.
4.1.2.2. Limitations

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- The deployment of building cultural life is not really uniform, in
some places the implementation process is still slow, especially in remote
areas, border areas.
- Developing cultural life in wedding, mourning and festivals is still
limited. Some places in Lang Son area still have obsolete customs.
- Building cultural life in public places is still mechanical, not really
flexible
- Conventions in some localities have not really come into life

- Campaign funding is limited, thus affecting the implementation efficiency.
- The review is also formative, credit-driven, quantity-driven
- Causes of limitations
Objective reasons
- Difficulties in natural conditions and historical conditions affect
cultural life building result
- Influenced by opening and market economy, industrialization and
modernization
Subjective reasons
- Awareness of some committees, local authorities is still limited
- Propaganda about cultural life is not effective
- Training and retraining of specialized staff has not been given
adequate attention
- Coordination among the Party committees, local authorities, mass
organizations in directing the building of cultural life in some places is not
frequent and continuous.
- Conservatism and backwardness in customs
4.2. Experience
- Raise awareness and enhance propaganda and education about
cultural tradition in association with building cultural life.
- Combine "building" and "fighting" measures in building cultural
life: properly addressing the relationship between "building" and "fighting"
in the process of building cultural life in localities, “building” is key,
“fighting” supports its development
- Assure planning, standard, effectiveness and regular inspection and
evaluation of cultural life building activities
- The assurance of planning of cultural life building process must be
taken care of in all stages: from planning, operation, implementation and
inspection, summary and drawing experiences.
- The assurance of standard of cultural life building process is

assurance of consistency in both performance content and method, while
ensuring the rich and diverse development, uniqueness of each locality.
Validity will turn the cultural life building performance of Lang Son
province from spontaneous to self-consciousness, the word "feasible"
becomes highly enforceable.

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Regularly check and evaluate cultural life building activities to better
implement the role of cultural life in Lang Son province
- Implement socialization in building cultural life
Implementing socialization in building cultural life is to mobilize all
resources in culture.
- It should have a method, a suitable way, to focus on nature, fight
against formalism and movement-driven diseases
Ensuring quality, not running along achievements and quantity in
recognizing cultural titles and rewarding, timely motivating excellent
individuals, families and groups, creating emulative motivation and
pushing the movement of building cultural life.
Summary of chapter 4
The process of building cultural life of Lang Son province from 1998
to 2015, with characteristics of the province in building cultural life, had
advantages and limitations, success and failure, leaving any meanings and
valuable experiences.
The achieved results in building cultural life were comprehensive,
contributing to improving the material and spiritual life of people. The
results achieved in two stages showed that the later stage has more
development steps than the previous one in all aspects; positively
influencing improvement of material and spiritual life of people.

Besides, the process of building cultural life of Lang Son province
from 1998 to 2015 still existed many limitations, the implementation of
building cultural life was not really uniform, in some places the
implementation process is still slow, especially in remote and border areas.
Building cultural life in weddings, mourning and festivals was still limited,
some places in Lang Son area still had obsolete customs. Building family
cultural life was not so good. Building cultural life in public places was still
mechanical, inflexible. Preparation and performance of Conventions,
Regulations in some localities have not really come into life. Funding for
campaigns was still limited, thus affecting the implementation efficiency.
The review is also formative, credit-driven, quantity-drive
The process of building cultural life in Lang Son province from 1998
to 2015 left an important meaning, contributing to making civilized society,
building new human personality, improving people's lives; building cultural
environment; implementing social discipline, living and working under the
law; improving the performance of cultural and sports institutions;
preserving and promoting the national identity values; ensuring security
and order in the province.

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CONCLUSION
Lang Son is a mountainous, border province with many ethnic
minorities. Being aware of the urgency of building cultural life in the
period of accelerating national industrialization and modernization and
international integration, Lang Son province has officially developed the
cultural life in the province since 1998 in the spirit of the 5th Conference
Resolution of the Party Central Committee (Term VIII) on "Building an
advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity".

Building cultural life in Lang Son province (1998 - 2015) took place
in historical conditions with many affecting factors, from the natural and
social conditions of the locality to the country’s more intensive and wider
innovation, industrialization and modernization, market economy
development and international integration. Lang Son province has just had
great advantages due to the geographical position, traditional cultural
history of ethnic groups in the province, the economy is growing, the
material life of the people has gradually improved. , economic and cultural
exchanges with regions at home and abroad are increasing; but also facing
many difficulties and challenges, especially the reverse of the market
economy, the penetration of negative, foreign factors, destruction by hostile
forces, crimes and evils in border areas ...
The process of building cultural life from 1998 to 2015 passed
through two periods (1998-2005) and (2006 - 2015) with the change of
historical conditions and specific requirements of practical life. Building
cultural life is quite rich, expressed through many movements of building
personal cultural life, building family cultural life, building community
cultural life and building the cultural environment.
The process of developing and building cultural life has participation
of the whole political system, specific programs and plans prepared for
each year. Annually, preliminary reviews were organized to draw
experiences and work out directions and tasks for the following year. The
leaders, managers, branches and socio-political organizations had practical
activities, suitable to the conditions of each branch, each agency and unit;
In particular, the movement was inspired by ethnic people and performed in
various forms.
Achievements in building cultural life from 1998 to 2015 were
obtained in all aspects: economy, politics, culture, society ... The later stage
is more developed than the previous one with the specific results, positive
impact on improving the material and spiritual life of people; contributing

to economic growth and socio-political stability; strengthening the great
national solidarity; implementing poverty reduction; improving
environmental sanitation; promoting neighborhood affection and gratitude;

22